*2^^-?-#rw  "^ 


Tiie  Proverbs  of  Solomon,  King  of  Israel. 


:Bi'b!e.  .  O.T.   R-overtes. .  E-tAoU'-sV, .    ia5"=l.    AijA-Worv^scd 


/< 


THE 


PROVERBS    OF   SOLOMON 


ILLUSTRATED 

BY     HISTORICAL     PARALLELS     FROM     DRAWINGS 

BY   JOHN   GILBERT 

AND 

PREFACED    BY    INTRODUCTORY     REMARKS 

BY 

JAMES   HAMILTON,  D.D. 


NEW  YORK: 
ROBERT   CARTER  AND   BROTHERS, 

530,  BROADWAY. 
1859. 


PREFACE. 


We  ought  to  be  very  thankful  to  any  one  who  makes  a  great 
truth  portable.  Our  memories  are  weak.  Like  travellers  in  the 
desert  or  amidst  polar  ice,  we  want  to  be  lightly  laden  ;  and  yet 
we  must  carry  on  our  own  shoulders  the  provisions  and  equipments 
required  for  all  the  journey.  And  some  teachers  have  not  the  art 
of  packing.  They  give  out  their  thoughts  in  a  style  so  verbose 
and  prolix  that  to  listen  is  a  feat,  and  to  remember  would  be  a 
miracle.  Occasionally,  however,  there  arises  a  master  spirit,  who  in 
the  wordy  wilderness  espies  the  important  principle,  and  who  has 
the  faculty  of  separating  it  from  surrounding  truisms,  and  reproducing 
it  in  convenient  and  compact  dimensions.  From  the  mountain  of 
sponge  he  extracts  the  ounce  of  iodine  ;  from  the  bushel  of  dry 
petals  he  distils  the  flask  of  otta  ;  or,  what  comes  nearer  our  purpose 
— from  bulky  decoctions,  and  from  beverages  weak  and  watery,  he 
extracts  the  nutritious  or  the  fragrant  particles,  and  in  a  few  tiny 
packets  gives  you  the  essence  of  a  hundred  meals. 

Of  such  truth-condensers  the  most  distinguished  in  our  own 
country  is  Bacon.  "  Knowledge  is  power."  "  They  be  two  things — 
unity  and  uniformity."  "  Reading  maketh  a  full  man  ;  conference  a 
ready  man  ;  and  writing  an  exact  man."  Truths  like  these  flash  like 
revelations,  or  shine  as  the  most  brilliant  novelties  on  the  page  of  our 
mighty  thinker ;  but  many  of  them  are  truths  which  he  had  heard 
discoursed  by  drowsy  pedants,  or  vaguely  muttered  by  the  multitude, 
and  it  was  the  work  of  his  genius  to  reduce  vagueness  to  precision, 
and  concentrate  an  ocean  of  commonplace  into  a  single  aphorism.     By 


OCT  ZaidlS 


~*^601 


IV  PREFACE. 

making  the  truth  portable,  he  made  it  useful.  The  distinction  between 
unity  and  uniformity  is  the  rationale  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance, 
and  must  be  the  basis  of  all  hopeful  attempts  to  bring  about  peace 
on  earth  without  obliterating  national  characteristics,  and  forcing 
into  one  relentless  mould  all  races  of  mankind.  Many  a  lecture 
to  which  the  reader  may  have  listened  at  the  opening  of  public 
libraries  a.nd  literary  institutions,  would  doubtless  be  an  expansion 
of  the  last  of  our  three  quotations.  And  what  is  every  mechanical 
invention,  the  whole  recent  histoiy  of  science,  and  the  modern 
desire  for  education — what  are  they  but  an  illustration  of  that  now 
most  trite  of  all  sayings,  "  Knowledge  is  power  %" 

But  there  is  a  still  greater  achievement.  By  dint  of  Bramah 
pressure,  a  Baconian  intellect  may  pack  into  a  single  sentence  a 
world  of  meaning,  and  yet,  if  it  has  no  other  recommendation,  it 
may  lie  for  a  long  time  neglected  or  forgotten.  Amongst  the  sons 
of  men  the  avidity  for  wisdom  or  knowledge  is  not  so  great  as  the 
demand  for  novelty  or  beauty,  and  the  truth-market  is  not  so  much 
frequented  as  the  fancy-fair.  It  is,  therefore,  a  great  point  to  make 
the  truth  so  new,  so  curious,  or  so  charming,  that  all  who  come  must 
buy  ;  and  whether  it  be  a  paradox — an  old  friend  with  a  new  face, 
like  Wordsworth's 

"The  child  is  father  to  the  man  ;  " 
or  a  happy  alliteration,  like  Gray's 

"  A  fav'iite  has  no  friend  ;  " 
or  a  forcible  antithesis,  like  the  same  poet's 

"Where  ignorance  is  bliss, 
'Tis  folly  to  be  wise  ;  " 

or  an  apt  metaphor,  like  Young's 

"  Procrastination  is  the  thief  of  time  :" 


PREFACE. 


or  a  witty  saying,  as  Nvhen  Pope  represents  the  devil  as  i)iqued  at 
the  citizen's  saintship  and  longing  to  tempt  him,  "  like  good  Job  of 

old," 

"  But  Satan  now  is  wiser  than  of  yore, 
And  templs  by  making  rich,  not  making  poor  ;  " 

and  Coleridge's  saying  regarding  the  same  evil  spirit, 

"  The  sin  he  loves  best 
Is  the  pride  that  apes  humihty  :  " 

— such  sentences  catch  all  comers,  and  are  carried  hither  and 
thither  till  they  get  into  universal  currency,  and  become  "  familiar  in 
our  mouths  as  household  words." 

It  is  in  some  such  way  that  proverbs  take  their  rise.  First  of 
all  there  is  printed  in  a  book,  or  thrown  out  in  casual  conversation, 
or,  more  frequently  still,  there  is  uttered  by  a  favourite  orator  on 
some  exciting  occasion,  a  sentence  which  "  makes  an  end  of  the 
matter,"  and  it  is  applaudingly  caught  up  and  circulated.  It  is 
not  only  so  short  that  everybody  can  remember  it,-  but  it  is  so 
clever  that  nobody  can  forget  it.  If  somewhat  enigmatic,  all  the 
better ;  for  the  gilding  may  commend  the  pill,  and  an  opponent 
who  first  laughed  at  it  for  its  wit,  soon  discovers  that  he  has  swallowed 
his  own  confutation.  And  as  the  repartee  ever  ready, — as  an 
argument  which  the  least  skilful  can  use,  and  which  he  w-ould  need 
to  be  a  very  dexterous  man  who  can  parry, — this  "  jaculum  prudentis" 
wins  its  way  into  general  use,  till  the  original  authorship  is  forgotten. 
At  first  it  was  a  quotation  :  "  As  Mr.  So-and-so  said,"  or,  "  As  w^e  sing 
in  such  a  song  : "  but  by  and  by  the  name  of  the  first  utterer  is 
dropped  :  the  world  itself  is  willing  to  accept  the  authorship,  and  the 
adage  becomes  a  proverb. 

One  curious  consequence  is,  that  of  this  most  popular  of  all 
literature  the  larger  portion  is  anonymous.  In  other  words,  it  is  so 
long  ago   since  most  of  the   current  apophthegms  were  uttered,  that 


PREFACE. 


no  one  now  can  trace  their  origin.  Most  of  them  are  older  than 
the  art  of  printing,  and  some  of  them  are  so  old  that  they  probably 
existed  before  the  'J'ower  of  Babel,  and  have  been  carried  by  different 
nationalities  into  all  regions  of  the  globe. 

Nor  can  the  ethnologist  and  historian  readily  find  a  more  in- 
structive field  of  study  than  such  national  proverbs.  Not  only  are 
they  replete  with  significant  allusions,  but,  beyond  any  other  literature, 
they  betray  a  people's  tone  of  mind  and  prevailing  humours.  Take 
a  few  grou])s  for  example  ;  and,  first  of  all,  those  which  Burckhardt 
found  current  amongst  the  fellahs  of  Kgypt. 

"  The  hasty  and  the  taixly  meet  at  the  ferry. 
The  beetle  is  a  beauty  in  the  eye  of  its  mother. 
Follow  the  owl,  she  will  lead  thee  to  a  ruin. 
What  does  Heaven  care  for  the  cries  of  the  dogs  ? 
The  tongue  is  the  neck's  enemy. 

Throw  him  into  the  river,  and  he  will  rise  with  a  fish  in  his  mouth. 
A  borrowed  cloak  does  not  keep  the  wearer  warm. 
Prostrate  thyself  before  the  wicked  monkey  in  his  time  of  power. 
Eat  the  present,  and  break  the  dish. 
None  got  the  cow  but  the  Cadi. 
It  is  not  every  spirit  that  enters  the  glass  bottle. 
He  who  eats  a  hen  of  the  Sultan,  will  return  her  to  him  a  cow. 
He  who  eats  the  Sultan's  broth,  will  one  day  scald  his  lips." 

The  first  is  eminently  characteristic  of  Eastern  laziness  and 
INIohammedan  fatalism,  and  several  of  them  indicate  the  animals  of 
the  country,  e.  g.  the  owl,  the  beetle,  &c.,  national  habits  and  customs, 
e.g.  fishing  in  the  Nile,  and  the  conjurer  with  his  bottle;  and  the 
servility,  the  consciousness  of  an  arbitrary  and  capricious  despotism 
over-head,  and  the  poor  morality  of  the  greater  number  are  worthy 
of  a  region  of  which  it  was  long  ago  predicted  that  it  should  be 
"  the  basest  of  kincrdoms."  * 


*  To   any   one   studying   the   pliilosophy  of  proverbs,    there  can  be  no  work  so 
helpful   as   "The  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Modern  Eg}'ptians,  illustrated  from 


PREFACE. 


As  might  be  expected,  in  a  mucli  higher  style  both  of  poetr>'  and 
sentiment,  although  by  no  means  free  from  the  caution  and  cunning 
of  Oriental  slavishness,  are  the  proverbs  of  Persia.  They  are  .such 
as  these  : — 


Wliatever  God  wishes,  tliat  happens. 

Either  my  body  shall  reach  my  beloved,  or  my  soul  shall  leave  my  Ijody. 

The  slave  glories  in  his  wealth,  but  the  master  in  both. 

This  is  not  the  place  for  even  Gabriel  to  speak. 

Here  even  the  mouse  travels  ^vith  a  staff. 

Heaven  is  at  the  feet  of  mothers. 

The  misfortunes  of  the  stable  fall  on  the  head  of  tlie  monkey. 

A  snake  cannot  enter  his  hole  until  he  straightens  himself 

The  dust  at  the  door  of  a  friend  is  pleasing  to  his  visitor. 

Eat  the  musk-melons  !     What  have  you  to  do  with  the  field  where  they  grow  '. 

The  skin  of  the  date  is  better  than  the  kernel. 

The  desire  of  the  garden  never  leaves  the  heart  of  the  nightingale."  * 


There  cannot  be  a  more  exqui.site  enforcement  of  filial  piety 
than  the  saying,  "  Heaven  is  at  the  feet  of  mothers."  The  proverb 
which  follows  is  founded  on  a  custom  akin  to  one  which  obtains 
amongst  ourselves ;  for,  as  the  grooms  of  England  often  keep  a 
goat  or  a  dog  in  the  stable,  so  it  seems  that,  in  Persia,  they  patronise 
the  monkey.  If  the  stable  falls,  or  takes  fire,  the  monkey  is 
killed,  or  is  turned  out  of  house  and  home  ;  and  so  the  humblest 
retainer  in  a  large  establishment,  or  the  obscurest  inhabitant  of 
a  kingdom,  shares  the  mi.sfortunes  of  his  superiors. 


their  Proverbial  Sayings  current  at  Cairo,"  by  the  late  John  Lewis  Burckhardt, — 
a  book,  hke  most  similar  works,  now  very  scarce.  The  proverbial  sa)-ings  are  often 
very  shrewd,  but  they  usually  inculcate  a  paltiy  lesson.  •'  Do  not  beat  the  wolf,  and 
do  not  cause  hunger  to  the  sheep,"  Burckhardt  instances  as  the  only  ma.xira 
"recommending  universal  charity"  which  he  had  been  able  to  discover;  and  he 
might  have  added,  almost  the  only  one  embodying  a  generous  sentiment. 

*  The  above  are  selected  from  "A  Collection  of  Proverbs,   Persian  and  Hindos- 
tanee,"  by  the  late  Capt.  T.  Roebuck.     Calcutta,  1824. 


PREFACE. 


Still  farther  East  we  find  the  following  : — 

"  A  grave  and  majestic  outside  is  the  palace  of  the  soul. 
Water  does  not  remain  on  the  mountain,  or  vengeance  in  a  great  mind. 
Sweep  the  snow  from  before  your  own  door,  and  do  not  busy  yourself  with  the 
frost  on  your  neighbour's  tiles. 

We  live— we  die — and  wliat  are  we 

But  more  robust  ephemerje  ? 

He  who  pursues  an  idle  wish 

But  climbs  a  tree  to  catch  a  fish. 
Great  wealth  comes  by  destiny  ;  moderate  wealth  by  industry. 
Dig  a  well  before  you  are  thirsty." 

The  above  are  Chinese,  and  have  a  strong  tincture  of  the 
politeness,  the  quasi-magnanimity,  the  practical  sense,  the  industrj^, 
and  the  atheism  of  that  sedate  and  .self-sufficient  people. 

As  a  contrast  to  the  abject  proverbs  of  Egypt,  we  may  give  a 
Slavonian  specimen.  Like  the  fellahs,  the  Servians  are  a  conquered 
and  down-trodden  race,  but  their  spirit  is  not  crushed,  and  their 
proverbs  are  not  only  often  caustic  and  witty,  and  sometimes 
touchingly  pa.thetic,  but  they  are  always  manly  and  devout. 

"  God  is  an  ancient  giver. 

What  God  gives  is  sweeter  than  honey. 

Whom  God  guards  the  gun  cannot  hurt. 

The  sun  shines  for  the  sake  of  orphans. 

An  orphan's  tear  pierces  the  ploughshare. 

The  blind  man  weeps,  not  because  he  is  unbeautiful,  but  because  he  cannot  see 

the  beautiful  world. 
Give  me  a   comrade  who   will   weep   with   me  ; — one   who   will   laugh   I    can 

easily  find. 
Wouldst  thou  learn  to  know  a  man  ?     Give  him  power. 
All  the  C17  is  against  the  wolf,  but  beside  the  wolf  the  fox  is  fattening. 
When  a  man  has  lost  anything,  let  him  seek  it  in  his  own  bosom. 
The  husband  should  labour,  the  wife  should  save. 
Not  the  glittering  weapon  fights  the  fight,  but  the  heart  of  the  hero. "  * 


*  For  the   above   Servian  proverbs,  we  are  indebted  to  an  article  in  "  Eraser's 
Magazine  "  for  May,  1855. 


PREFACE. 


The  oldest,  and  by  far  the  most  influential  collection  of  Proverbs 
in  the  world,  is  that  which  has  come  down  to  us  as  a  portion  of 
Holy  Scripture.  Whether  any  of  them  existed  before  the  time  of 
Solomon,  it  is  now  useless  to  inquire,  because  impossible  to  ascertain  ; 
but  an  authority  and  dignity  are  secured  to  them  with  which  no  others 
can  compete,  by  the  place  which  they  occupy  in  the  canon  of 
Inspiration.  In  consequence,  too,  of  this  pre-eminence,  they  have 
had  a  circulation  wider  than  any  others,  and  have  not  only  done 
more  to  fill  men's  memories,  and  mould  their  lives,  than,  perhaps, 
all  other  aphorisms  united ;  but,  repeated  in  schools,  and  quoted 
in  sermons,  they  have  been  floating  through  the  atmosphere  of 
Christendom  for  nearly  two  thousand  years,  and  have  so  seeded 
themselves  in  European  minds,  as  to  be  constantly  reappearing 
in  derived  or  secondary  maxims.* 

Even  in  a  literary  point  of  view,  the  value  of  this  book  cannot 
be  over-rated.  The  parallel  structure  of  Hebrew  poetry  is  well 
adapted  to  proverbial  purposes, — like  metre,  helping  the  memory, 
and  frequently,  in  forceps  fashion,  holding  the  truth  neatly  and 
firmly  betwixt  the  points  of  an  opposing  antithesis.  "  Of  a  simple 
parallelism  examples  will  be  found  in  such  sayings  as — 

"  The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  gloiy, 
If  it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 
As  a  roaring  lion,  and  a  ranging  bear, 
So  is  a  wicked  ruler  over  the  poor  people. 
A  fool's  mouth  is  his  destruction, 
And  his  lips  are  a  trap  for  his  soul. " 


*  Until  the  close  of  last  century  the  King's  printer  used  to  issue  a  penny  edition  of 
"  The  Proverbs  "  for  the  use  of  the  parish  schools  in  Scotland,  where  it  was  a  regular 
text-book  ;  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  a  goodly  measure  of  the  thrift,  industry,  fore- 
thought, and  reverence  for  parental  authority  which  long  distinguished  that  nation,  was 
derived  from  the  wholesome  food  with  which  its  youth  was  thus  nourished.  In  the 
course  of  domiciliaiy  visitation,  we  remember  once  encountering  a  Scotchman,  a  rather 
thriving  shopkeeper,  who  avowed  himself  an  infidel.  Amongst  other  things,  we  asked 
him  what  he  thought  of  tlie  Bible.     He  professed  to  like  some  parts  of  it  very  much. 


PREFACE. 


Of  the  balanced  or  antithetic  parallelism  may  be  given  as  specimens — 

"  He  that  concealeth  a  transgression  procureth  love  ; 
But  he  that  repeateth  a  matter  separateth  friends. 
The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth  ; 
But  the  righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion. 
The  legs  of  the  lame  are  not  equal  : 
So  is  a  proverb  in  the  mouth  of  fools. " 

On  the  beauty  of  many  of  these  "  apples  of  gold  in  their  baskets  of 
silver,"  it  is  needless  to  dwell,  and  the  best  evidence  of  the  quaintness 
and  enigmatical  ingenuity  of  others  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that 
"  readers"  who  "  run"  so  often  miss  their  meaning.  And,  in  the  fullest 
sense  of  the  word,  not  a  few  of  them  are  "witty  inventions."  Some 
of  the  descriptive  touches  have  all  the  effect  of  the  most  genuine 
humour ;  and  there  cannot  be  more  polished  irony  than  shafts  like 
the  following  aimed  at  indolence  : 

"  The  slothful  man  roasteth  not  that  which  he  took  in  hunting. 
The  slothful  hideth  his  hand  in  his  bosom  ;  [or  dippeth  his  hand  in  the  dish] 
It  grieveth  him  to  bring  it  again  to  his  mouth. 
The  slothful  man  saith,  There  is  a  lion  without  : 
I  shall  be  slain  in  the  streets  ;" 

with  which  may  be  compared  the  Bechuana  proverb,  "  The  month  of' 
seed-time  is  the  season  of  headaches,"  and  the  Arabic,  "  He  dies  of 
hunger  under  the  date-tree." 

It  is  not  only  in  ethics  but  in  theology  that  the  Proverbs  of  Solomon 
surpass  all  succeeding  manuals.  Here  the  Most  High  is  constantly 
present  in  His  ever-active  and  all-pervading  providence.  "  Not  only 
the  outward  fortune,  but  the  minds  of  men,  are  under  His  control ;" 
and  whilst  "  He  knows  everything  that  takes  place  on  the  earth,  He 
loves,   commands,   and   rewards    piety   and   virtue,    and   abhors   and 


and  added  that  there  was  one  book  of  the  Bible  to  which  he  was  under  great  obliga- 
tions, even  in  a  worldly  point  of  view,  for  he  had  found  frequent  assistance,  in  carrying 
on  his  business,  from  the  Book  of  Proverbs. 


PREFACE. 


punishes  sin  and  transgression."*  And  although,  as  in  some  of  the 
earlier  books  of  the  Old  Testament,  there  are  few  allusions  to  a  future 
state  of  existence,  there  is  a  continual  inculcation  of  that  godliness  so 
profitable  for  all  things  ;  and  in  "  the  length  of  days "  promised  by 
Heavenly  Wisdom  we  surely  have  a  hint  of  immortality. 

Many  of  the  most  popular  proverbs  in  our  own  and  the  other 
languages  of  modern  Euroi^e  are  metrical :  as  the  Dutch,  "  Als  de  man  wel 
wint  de  vrouw  wel  spint ;"  or  our  own,  "  When  the  cat's  away  the  mice 
will  play ;"  or  the  Spanish,  "  Quien  se  muda  Dios  le  ayuda."t  Con- 
sidering that  the  Proverbs  of  Scripture  are  to  all  intents  metrical,  it  is 
remarkable  that  so  few  attempts  have  been  made  to  render  them  in 
rhyme.  The  only  versions  of  the  sort  with  which  we  are  acquainted 
are  very  unsuccessful,  and  we  are  not  sure  but  that  the  oldest  of  the 
series  is  the  least  of  a  failure.  It  is  "  Certayne  Chapters  of  the 
Proverbes  of  Solomon  drawen  into  metre  by  Thomas  Sterneholde, 
late  Grome  of  the  Kynge's  Magestie's  robes.  Imprynted  at  London 
by  John  Case,  dwellynge  in  Peter  Colledge  Rentes,  [about  1572,]  for 
Willyam  Seres."  It  extends  to  the  first  eleven  chapters,  and  of  each 
chapter  a  metrical  argument  is  given.     The  eighth  is  thus  indicated  : — 

"  The  wiseman  doeth  commend  to  us 
The  Sonne  of  God  most  hye, 
Whiche  is  the  worde  that  al  thinges  made, 
And  was  eternally. " 

Relieved  of  the  black  letter  and  the  antique  spelling,  our  readers  may 
not  be  displeased  with  two  short  specimens  : — 

' '  Go  to,  go  to,  sleep  hardily, 
And  slumber  out  thy  fill ; 
With  folded  arms  lie  down  to  rest. 
And  take  thou  thine  own  will. 


*  A  New  Translation  of  the  Proverbs,  by  G.  R.  Noyes,  D.  D.,  Professor  of 
Hebrew  in  Harvard  Univei-sity,  Boston,  1846. 

f  A  veiy  useful  "Polyglot  of  Foreign  [European]  Proverbs"  has  just  been 
published  by  Mr.  H.  G.  Bohn,  giving  both  the  originals  and  translation. 


XU  PREFACE. 


Again,  chapter  xi. 


As  one  that  journ'eth  by  the  way, 

So  Poverty  shall  come  : 
And  also  like  a  weaponed  man 

On  thee  shall  fiercely  run. 

But  if  thou  be  industrious, 
And  well  thy  labour  ply, 

Thine  harvest  shall  be  plentiful, 
And  yield  abundantly  : 

And  as  the  rivers  great  and  deep 
Increase  by  rage  of  rain, 

So  shall  thy  barns  be  stuffed  full 
Of  com  and  eke  of  grain. 

And  thou  shalt  stand  notliing  at  all 

In  fear  of  any  lack  ; 
The  woful  bag  of  beggary 

Shall  never  grieve  thy  back. " 


If  that  perchance  an  honest  man 

To  wealth  advanced  be. 
The  whole  city  wherein  he  dwell'th 

Rejoice  as  well  as  he. 

And  if  so  be  a  wicked  man 

Do  happen  to  decay, 
AU  men  be  glad  that  he  so  soon 

Is  vanished  away. 

And  so,  likewise,  through  godly  men 

A  city  shall  increase  ; 
To  which  by  their  good  governance 

Is  brought  both  rest  and  peace  : 

So  that  the  same  in  nobleness 

All  other  shall  excel. 
As,  in  a  rank  of  ladies  fair. 

Some  one  doth  bear  the  bell." 


PREFACE. 


The  best  work  on  The  Proverbs  is  by  the  late  Van  der  Pahii  of 
Leyden,  It  extends  to  eight  volumes  octavo,  and  has  passed  through 
three  editions ;  but  all  its  author's  fine  fancy  and  eloquence  and  wealth 
of  ethical  wisdom  are  locked  up  in  the  language  of  his  native  Nether- 
lands. In  our  own  tongue  we  have  excellent  translations  by  the  Rev. 
G.  Holden  and  Dr.  Noyes,  who  have  shown  good  taste  and  judgment 
in  departing  as  little  as  possible  from  the  words  of  the  Authorized 
Version.  As  an  explanation  of  the  successive  precepts  and  maxims  of 
the  book,  the  student  will  find  almost  all  that  he  requires  in  the 
Paraphrase  of  Bishop  Patrick ;  and  many  of  our  readers  are  already 
acquainted  with  "  Laws  from  Heaven  for  Life  on  Earth,"  in  which  the 
Rev.  W.  Arnot  has  expounded  and  enforced  its  successive  lessons  with 
the  sagacity  of  a  profound  observer  and  the  affectionate  fidelity  of  a 
true-hearted  pastor,  and  in  language  so  terse  and  sententious  that  many 
of  his  pithy  sayings  deserve  in  their  turn  to  pass  into  proverbs. 

In  the  quaint  old  times  when  books  of  Emblems  abounded,  it  was 
not  unusual  to  make  an  allegorical  picture,  and  give  a  proverb  as 
the  key.  For  instance,  the  picture  would  be  a  pedestrian  blinded 
by  the  snow-drift,  but  bearing  up  vigorously  against  the  blast,  and 
about  to  step  over  a  precipice  into  the  abyss,  with  the  motto,  "  There 
is  a  way  which  seemeth  right  unto  a  man,  but  the  end  thereof  are 
the  ways  of  death;"  or  the  picture  would  be  a  party  of  travellers 
in  similar  circumstances,  but  saved  from  destruction  by  the  torch 
which  the  foremost  is  carrying,  with  the  motto,  "  For  the  command- 
ment is  a  lamp,  and  the  law  is  light."  Our  artist  has  selected  his 
materials  from  the  regions  not  of  fancy,  but  of  fact,  and  the  design 
has  been  to  enforce  some  of  the  lessons  of  Heavenly  Wisdom  by 
the  occurrences  of  actual  history ,  so  that  the  series  might  almost 
have  been  entitled  "  Texts  from  the  Book  of  Proverbs,  illustrated  by 
incidents  from  the  Book  of  Providence."  In  such  an  attempt  there 
is  a  difficulty  which  the  allegorical  painter  does  not  need  to  combat. 
A  pictorial  parable  includes  within  itself  the  whole  of  its  own  little 
drama  ;  but  a  scene  from  actual  life  seldom  tells  at  once  the  beginning 


XIV  PREFACE. 


and  the  end  ;  and  for  the  completion  of  the  story,  and  for  deducing 
the  suggested  moral,  the  designer  must,  to  some  extent,  rely  on 
the  ingenuity  and  general  information  of  the  spectator  or  student. 

Of  these  illustrations,  the  greater  number  has  been  selected  from 
the  sacred  narrative,  but  a  few  are  taken  from  general  history.  In 
some  respects  it  would  have  been  an  easier  task,  and  it  would  have 
secured  a  greater  prima  facie  unity,  had  the  choice  been  limited 
to  Scriptural  themes.  But  the  more  extended  range  will  be  attended 
with  some  advantage  if  it  shows  how  "profitable  for  correction 
and  instruction  in  righteousness"  this  portion  of  Inspiration  will 
be  found  by  all  ages  of  the  world,  and  all  classes  of  people.  Its 
sayings  are  not  obsolete,  and  its  lessons  are  exemplified  in  Luther 
as  well  as  Peter, — in  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  Napoleon 
the  Great,  no  less  strikingly  than  in  Samson  and  King  Solomon 
himself 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

DESIGNED   BY  JOHN   GILBERT, 

ENGRAVED    BY    DALZIEL,    WHYMPER,    JACKSON,     AND    THOMAS, 
AND   PRINTED   BY   R.   CLAY. 


I. 

SOLOMON  THE  SON  OF  DAVID,  KING  OF  ISRAEL. 
Engraved  by  Dalziel. 

"The  Queen  of  Sheba  said,  .  .  .  Happy  are  thy  men,  happy  are  these 
thy  servants,  which  stand  continually  before  thee,  and  that  hear  thy  wisdom. " — 
I  Kings  X.  8 {Frontispiece) 

11. 

DAVID'S  CHARGE  TO  SOLOMON. 

Engraved  by  Whymper. 

"  And  thou,  Solomon  my  son,  know  thou  the  God  of  thy  father,  and  serve 
him  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  with  a  willing  mind  :  ...  if  thou  seek  him,  he  will 
be  found  of  thee ;  but  if  thou  forsake  him,  he  M'ill  cast  thee  off  for  ever. " — 
I  Chron.  xxviii.  9 

III. 

ABRAHAM'S  SERVANT  AND  REBEKAH. 

Engraved  by  Thomas. 

"And  he  made  his  camels  to  kneel  down  without  the  city  by  a  well  of  water 
at  the  time  of  the  evening,  even  the  time  that  women  go  out  to  draw  water. 
And  he  said,  O  Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham,  I  pray  thee,  send  me 
good  speed  this  day,  and  show  kindness  unto  my  master  Abraham." — 
Genesis  iou\.  11,  12 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


IV. 
SAMSON  IN  CAPTIVITY. 

Engraved  by  Thomas. 

PAGE 

"The  Philistines  took  him,  and  put  out  his  eyes,  and  brought  him  down  to 
Gaza,  and  bound  him  with  fetters  of  brass ;  and  he  did  grind  in  the  prison- 
house. " — y^iidges  xvi.  21 lo 

V. 
THE  PRODIGAL  SON. 

Engraved  by  Jackson. 

"He  took  his  journey  into  a  far  country,  and  there  wasted  his  substance  with 
riotous  Uving.  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there  arose  a  mighty  famine  in  that 
land,  and  he  began  to  be  in  want.  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  a  citizen 
of  that  country  ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed  swine." — Litke  xv.  13 — 15     14 

VI. 

TIMOTHY  AND  HIS  GRANDMOTHER  LOIS. 
Engraved  by  Whymper. 

"When  I  call  to  remembrance  the  unfeigned  faith  that  is  in  thee,  which  dwelt 
first  in  thy  grandmother  Lois,  and  thy  mother  Eunice  ;  and  I  am  persuaded  that 
in  thee  also. " — 2  Timothy  \.  5 18 

VII. 
JOSEPH  MEETING  HIS  FATHER. 

Engraved  by  Jackson. 

"Joseph  made  ready  his  chariot,  and  went  up  to  meet  Israel  his  father,  to 
Goshen,  and  presented  himself  unto  him  :  and  he  fell  on  his  neck,  and  wept  on 
his  neck  a  good  while. " — Genesis  ■^sn.  29 22 

VIII. 

THE  HARVEST-FIELD  OF  BOAZ. 

Engraved  by  yackson. 

"  Naomi  had  a  kinsman  of  her  husband's,  a  mighty  man  of  wealth,  and  his 
name  was  Boaz.  .  .  .  And  behold,  Boaz  came  from  Bethlehem  and  said  unto 
the  reapers.  The  Lord  be  with  you.  And  they  answered  him,  The  Lord  bless 
you." — Ruth  ii.  I,  4 28 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


IX. 

MR.  FLETCHER  OF  MADELEY  AND  HIS  NEPHEW. 

Engraved  by  Dahicl. 

rtoE 

"  The  Rev.  J.  W.  Fletcher  had  a  profligate  nephew,  who  was  dismissed  from  his 
post  as  an  ofificer  in  the  Sardinian  army.  One  day,  by  presenting  a  pistol  to  his 
uncle,  General  De  Gons,  he  extorted  from  him  a  draft  for  500  crowns.  With 
this  he  called  on  Mr.  Fletcher,  and,  as  he  exhibited  it  with  exultation,  Mr.  F.  took 
it,  folded  it  up,  and  put  it  into  his  pocket,  saying,  '  It  strikes  me,  young  man, 
that  you  have  possessed  yourself  of  this  note  by  some  indirect  method ;  and  in 
honesty  I  cannot  return  it  but  with  my  brother's  knowledge  and  approbation. ' 
Instantly  the  pistol  was  at  his  breast,  and  he  was  told,  as  he  valued  his  life,  to 
return  the  draft.  '  My  life, '  replied  Mr.  Fletcher,  '  is  secure  iir  the  protection  of 
the  Almighty  Power  who  guards  it. '  'This  led  the  nephew  to  remark  that  his  uncle 
De  Gons  was  more  afraid  of  death.  '  Afraid  of  death  ! '  rejoined  Mr.  Fletcher, 
'  do  you  think  I  have  been  twenty-five  years  the  minister  of  the  Lord  of  Life  to  be 
afraid  of  death  now  ?  No,  sir,  thanks  be  to  God  who  giveth  me  the  victoiy  ! 
It  is  for  you  to  fear  death  who  have  every  reason  to  fear  it.  You  are  a  gamester 
and  a  cheat,  yet  call  yourself  a  gentleman  !  You  are  a  seducer  of  female 
innocence,  and  still  you  say  you  are  a  gentleman  !  You  are  a  duellist,  and 
your  hand  is  red  with  your  brother's  blood,  and  for  this  you  style  yourself  a  man 
of  honour  !  Look  there,  sir,  look  there  !  See  the  broad  eye  of  Heaven  is  fixed 
upon  us.  Tremble  in  the  presence  of  your  Maker,  who  can  in  a  moment  kill 
your  body,  and  for  ever  punish  your  soul  in  hell. '  The  youth  was  disaTmed,  and 
the  interview  ended  in  his  uncle  praying  with  hnn,  and  promising  to  give  him  a 
hundred  crowns  to  relieve  his  immediate  necessities." — Benson's  Life  of  Fletcher.     34 

X- 

NAPOLEON  AND  THE  PAGE. 

Eng^'ixved  by  Jackson. 

"  When  Napoleon  returned  to  his  palace,  immediately  after  his  defeat  at 
Waterloo,  he  continued  many  hours  without  taking  any  refreshment.  One  of  the 
grooms  of  the  chamber  ventured  to  serve  up  some  coffee,  in  his  cabinet,  by  the 
hands  of  a  child,  whom  Napoleon  had  occasionally  distinguished  by  his  notice. 
The  emperor  sat  motionless,  with  his  hands  spread  over  his  eyes.  The  page 
stood  patiently  before  him,  gazing  with  infantine  curiosity  on  an  image  which 
presented  so  strange  a  contrast  to  his  own  figure  of  simplicity  and  peace  :  at  last, 
the  little  attendant  presented  his  tray,  exclaiming,  in  the  familiarity  of  an  age 
which  so  little  knows  distinctions,  'Eat,  sire;  it  will  do  you  good.'  The 
emperor  looked  at  him,  and  asked,  'Do  you  not  belong  to   Gonesse?'     'No, 


LIST   OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


sire,  I  come  from  Pierrefite.'  'Where  your  parents  have  a  cottage  and  some 
acres  of  land?'  'Yes,  sire.'  'There  is  happiness!'  replied  the  man  who 
was  still  the  emperor  of  France  and  king  of  Italy." — Chkevek's  A necdoUs     .     .     38 

XI. 

ROWLAND  TAYLOR,  THE  MARTYR. 

Engraved  by  yackson. 

"Now,  when  the  sheriff  and  his  company  came  against  St.  Botolph's  Church, 
Elisabeth  cried,  saying,  '  O  my  dear  father  !  mother,  mother,  here  is  my  father 
led  away  ! '  Then  cried  his  wife,  '  Rowland,  Rowland,  where  art  thou  ? '  for  it 
was  a  very  dark  morning,  that  the  one  could  not  see  the  other.  Dr.  Taylor 
answered,  'Dear  wife,  I  am  here ;' and  staid.  The  sheriff's  men  would  have 
led  him  forth,  but  the  sheriff  said,  '  Stay  a  little,  masters,  I  pray  you,  and  let 
him  speak  to  his  wife  ; '  and  so  they  staid.  Then  came  she  to  him,  and  he  took 
his  daughter  Mary  in  his  arms ;  and  he,  his  wife,  and  Elisabeth  kneeled  down 
and  said  the  Lord's  Prayer.  At  which  sight  the  sheriff  wept  apace,  and  so  did 
divers  others  of  the  company.  After  they  had  prayed,  he  rose  up  and  kissed  his 
wife,  and  shook  her  by  the  hand,  and  said,  *  Farewell,  my  dear  wife  ;  be  of  good 
comfort,  for  I  am  quiet  in  my  conscience.  God  shall  stir  up  a  father  for  my 
children. '  And  then  he  kissed  his  daughter  Mary,  and  said,  '  God  bless  thee, 
and  make  thee  his  servant ; '  and,  kissing  Elisabeth,  he  said,  '  God  bless  thee.  I 
pray  you  all  stand  strong  and  steadfast  unto  Christ  and  his  word,  and  keep  you 
from  idolatry.'  Then  said  his  wife,  'God  be  with  thee,  dear  Rowland;  I  will, 
with  God's  grace,  meet  thee  at  Hadley.'" — Foxe's  Book  of  Martyrs     ....     40 

XII. 
LUTHER  BEFORE  THE  EMPEROR. 

Engraved  by  Jackson. 

"Then,  turning  a  look  on  that  assembly  before  which  he  stood,  and  which  held 
in  its  hands  his  life  and  death  :  'I  stand  here,' and  can  say  no  more  :— God  help 
me.     Amen  ! ' " — History  of  the  Reformation,  by  IMeri.e  d'Aubigne    ....     44 

XIII. 
ROYAL  BENEFICENCE. 

Engraved  by  Dahicl. 

"In  the  severe  winter  of  1784-5,  George  III.  was  taking  a  solitary  walk,  when 
he  was  met  by  two  boys,  the  eldest  not  eight  years  of  age,  who  begged  for  relief 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


with  many  tears.  The  oldest,  being  questioned,  said  that  their  mother  was  dead 
and  their  father  dying.  The  king  ordered  the  boys  to  proceed  homeward,  and  he 
followed  them  until  he  reached  a  wretched  hovel.  There  he  found  the  mother 
already  dead,  apparently  from  starvation,  and  the  father  lying  beside  her,  also 
ready  to  perish.  The  king  burst  into  tears,  and,  leaving  all  the  cash  he  had  with 
him,  he  hastened  to  Windsor  and  sent  a  supply  of  coals,  clothes,  and  provisions. 
The  father  recovered,  and  the  king  completed  his  good  work  by  educating  and 
providing  for  the  children. " — Percy  Anecdotes :  Hn/iianify 50 


XIV 

GEORGE  BUCHANAN  AND  HIS  LAST  PUPIL. 

Engraved  by  Thomas. 

"That  September,  in  tyme  o*f  vacans,  my  uncle,  Mr.  Andro,  Mr.  Thomas 
Buchanan,  and  I,  hearing  that  Mr.  George  Buchanan  was  weake,  and  his  Historic 
under  the  press,  past  ower  to  Edinbruche  annes  earend,  to  visit  him  and  see  the 
wark.  When  we  cam  to  his  chalmer,  we  fand  him  sitting  in  his  chaire,  teatching 
his  young  man  that  servit  him  to  spell  a,  b,  ab  ;  e,  b,  eb  ;  &c.  Efter  salutation, 
Mr.  Andro  sayes,  'I  sie,  sir,  ye  are  nocht  ydle.'  'Better  this,' quoth  he,  'nor 
stelling  sheipe  (stealing  sheep),  or  sitting  ydle,  quhilk  is  als  ill  ! ' " — James 
Melvill's  Diary 54 


XV. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  AT  THE  COURT  OF  VERSAILLES. 

Engraved  by  Dalziel. 

"Dr.  Franklin,  at  length,  had  an  interview  with  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  : 
he  was  presented  to  him  in  the  gallery  of  Versailles,  by  the  Count  de  Vergennes, 
minister  for  foreign  affairs.  On  this  occasion  he  was  accompanied  and  followed 
by  a  great  number  of  Americans  and  individuals  of  foreign  states,  who  were 
collected  together  by  curiosity.  His  age,  his  venerable  appearance,  the  simplicity 
of  his  dress  on  such  an  occasion,  everything  that  was  either  singular  or  respectable 
in  the  life  of  this  American,  contributed  to  augment  the  public  attention. 
Clapping  of  hands,  and  a  variety  of  other  demonstrations  of  joy,  announced  the 
warmth  of  affection,  of  which  the  French  are  more  susceptible  than  any  other 
people,  and  of  which  their  politeness  and  civility  augments  the  charm  to  him  who 
is  the  object  of  it." — The  Life  of  Frattklin,  by  his  Gkp,.^i>SOS 58 


INDEX 


CHAPTERS  OF  THE  AUTHORIZED  VERSION. 


CHAr.  I I 

II 3 

III 5 

IV 7 

V 9 

VI lo 

VII 13 

VIII 14 

IX 17 

X 21 

XI 24 

XII 26 

XIII 29 

XIV 31 

XV 34 

XVI 37 


23 
3 


20 

9 

15 

19 

18 


Chap.  XVII 40  17 

XVIII 43  7 

XIX 45  II 

XX 48  5 

XXI 50  2  1 

XXII 53  14 

XXIII 58  4 

XXIV 60  23 

XXV 67  I 

XXVI 69  15 

XXVII 71  24 

XXVIII 74  8 

XXIX 76  19 

XXX 83  I 

XXXI 86  5 


Part  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

DIDACTIC    POEMS   AND    COUNSELS 
TO    THE   YOUNG. 


THE 

PROVERBS     OF    SOLOMON, 

THE     SON    OF     DA  FID, 
KING    OF    ISRAEL: 


To  know  wisdom  and  instruction ; 

To  perceive  the  words  of  understanding  ; 

To  receive  the  instruction  of  wisdom, 

Justice,  and  judgment,  and  equity ; 

To  give  subtilty  to  the  simple, 

To  the  young  man  knowledge  and  discretion. 

A  wise  man  will  hear,  and  will  increase  learning ; 

And  a  man  of  understanding  shall  attain  unto  wise  counsels 

To  understand  a  proverb,  and  the  interpretation  ; 

The  words  of  the  wise,  and  their  dark  sayings. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  knowledge  : 
But  fools  despise  wisdom  and  instruction. 

My  son,  hear  the  instruction  of  thy  father. 

And  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother  : 

For  they  shall  be  an  ornament  of  grace  unto  thy  head, 

And  chains  about  thy  neck. 

My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not. 
If  they  say,  "  Come  with  us, 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Let  US  lay  wait  for  blood, 

Let  us  lurk  privily  for  the  innocent  without  cause  : 

Let  us  swallow  them  up  alive  as  the  grave  ; 

And  whole  as  those  that  go  down  into  the  pit  : 

We  shall  find  all  precious  substance, 

We  shall  fill  our  houses  with  spoil  : 

Cast  in  thy  lot  among  us ; 

Let  us  all  have  one  purse  :" 

My  son,  walk  not  thou  in  the  way  with  them ; 

Refrain  thy  foot  from  their  path  : 

For  their  feet  run  to  evil. 

And  make  haste  to  shed  blood. 

Surely  in  vain  the  net  is  spread  in  the  sight  of  any  bird. 

And  they  lay  wait  for  their  own  blood  ; 

They  lurk  privily  for  their  own  lives. 

So  are  the  ways  of  every  one  that  is  greedy  of  gain  ; 

Which  taketh  away  the  life  of  the  owners  thereof. 

Wisdom  crieth  without ; 

She  uttereth  her  voice  in  the  streets  : 

She  crieth  in  the  chief  place  of  concourse. 

In  the  openings  of  the  gates  : 

In  the  city  she  uttereth  her  words,  saying, 

"  How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will  ye  love  simplicity  1 

And  the  scorners  delight  in  their  scorning, 

And  fools  hate  knowledge  ? 

Turn  you  at  my  reproof : 

Behold,  I  will  pour  out  my  spirit  unto  you, 

I  will  make  known  my  words  unto  you. 

Because  I  have  called. 

And  ye  refused  ; 

I  have  stretched  out  my  hand 


II. 

My  son,  hear  the  instruction  of  thy  father, 

And  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother: 

For  they  shaU  be  an  ornament  of  grace  unto  thy  head. 

And  chains  about  thy  neck. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


And  no  man  regarded  ; 

But  ye  have  set  at  nought  all  my  counsel, 

And  would  none  of  my  reproof : 

I  also  will  laugh  at  your  calamity  ; 

I  will  mock  when  your  fear  cometh  ; 

When  your  fear  cometh  as  desolation, 

And  your  destruction  cometh  as  a  whirlwind; 

When  distress  and  anguish  cometh  upon  you. 

Then  shall  they  call  upon  me, 

But  I  will  not  answer  ; 

They  shall  seek  me  early, 

But  they  shall  not  find  me. 

For  that  they  hated  knowledge, 

And  did  not  choose  the  fear  of  the  Lord  : 

They  would  none  of  my  counsel  : 

They  despised  all  my  reproof. 

Therefore  shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of  their  own  way, 

And  be  filled  with  their  own  devices. 

For  the  turning  away  of  the  simple  shall  slay  them. 

And  the  prosperity  of  fools  shall  destroy  them. 

But  whoso  hearkeneth  unto  me  shall  dwell  safely. 

And  shall  be  quiet  from  fear  of  evil." 

My  son,  if  thou  wilt  receive  my  words, 

And  hide  my  commandments  with  thee ; 

So  that  thou  incline  thine  ear  unto  wisdom, 

And  apply  thine  heart  to  understanding ; 

Yea,  if  thou  criest  after  knowledge, 

And  liftest  up  thy  voice  for  understanding  ; 

If  thou  seekest  her  as  silver, 

And  searchest  for  her  as  for  hid  treasures ; 

Then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 

And  find  the  knowledge  of  God. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


For  the  Lord  giveth  wisdom  : 

Out  of  his  mouth  cometh  knowledge  and  understanding. 

He  layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the  righteous; 

He  is  a  buckler  to  them  that  walk  uprightly ; 

He  keepeth  the  paths  of  judgment, 

And  preserveth  the  way  of  his  saints. 

Then  shalt  thou  understand  righteousness,  and  judgment,  and  equity; 

Yea,  every  good  path. 

When  wisdom  entereth  into  thine  heart, 
And  knowledge  is  pleasant  unto  thy  soul ; 
Discretion  shall  preserve  thee, 
Understanding  shall  keep  thee  : 
To  deliver  thee  from  the  way  of  the  evil  man. 
From  the  man  that  speaketh  froward  things ; 
Who  leave  the  paths  of  uprightness. 
To  walk  in  the  ways  of  darkness  ; 
Who  rejoice  to  do  evil. 
And  delight  in  the  frowardness  of  the  wicked  ; 
Whose  ways  are  crooked. 
And  they  froward  in  their  paths  : 
To  deliver  thee  from  the  strange  woman. 
Even  from  the  stranger  which  flattereth  with  her  words  ; 
Which  forsaketh  the  guide  of  her  youth. 
And  forgetteth  the  covenant  of  her  God. 
For  her  house  inclineth  unto  death. 

And  her  paths  unto  the  dead. 

None  that  go  unto  her  return  again, 

Neither  take  they  hold  of  the  paths  of  life. 

That  thou  mayest  walk  in  the  way  of  good  men. 

And  keep  the  paths  of  the  righteous. 

For  the  upright  shall  dwell  in  the  land, 

And  the  perfect  shall  remain  in  it. 


THE    PROVERBS  OF   SOLOMON. 


But  the  wicked  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  earth, 
And  the  transgressors  shall  be  rooted  out  of  it. 

My  son,  forget  not  my  law  ; 

But  let  thine  heart  keep  my  commandments  : 

For  length  of  days,  and  long  life, 

And  peace,  shall  they  add  to  thee. 

Let  not  mercy  and  truth  forsake  thee  : 

Bind  them  about  thy  neck  ; 

Write  them  upon  the  table  of  thine  heart  : 

So  shalt  thou  find  favour  and  good  understanding 

In  the  sight  of  God  and  man. 

Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart ; 

And  lean  not  unto  thine  own  understanding. 

In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him, 

And  he  shall  direct  thy  paths. 

Be  not  wise  in  thine  own  eyes  : 

Fear  the  Lord,  and  depart  from  evil. 

It  shall  be  health  to  thy  navel, 

And  marrow  to  thy  bones. 

Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  substance. 
And  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  thine  increase  : 

So  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty, 
And  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine. 

My  son,  despise  not  the  chastening  of  the  Lord  ; 
Neither  be  weary  of  his  correction  : 
For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  correcteth  ; 
Even  as  a  father  the  son  in  whom  he  delighteth. 

Happy  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom. 


THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


And  the  man  that  getteth  understanding. 
For  the  merchandise  of  it  is  better  than  the  merchandise  of  silver, 
And  the  gain  thereof  than  fine  gold. 
She  is  more  precious  than  rubies  : 
And  all  the  things  thou  canst  desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto  her. 
Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand  ; 
And  in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honour. 
Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 
And  all  her  paths  are  peace. 
She  is  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her  : 
And  happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth  her. 

The  Lord  by  wisdom  hath  founded  the  earth ; 
By  understanding  hath  he  established  the  heavens. 
By  his  knowledge  the  depths  are  broken  up. 
And  the  clouds  drop  down  the  dew. 

My  son,  let  not  them  depart  from  thine  eyes  : 

Keep  sound  wisdom  and  discretion  : 

So  shall  they  be  life  unto  thy  soul, 

And  grace  to  thy  neck. 

Then  shalt  thou  walk  in  thy  way  safely. 

And  thy  foot  shall  not  stumble. 

When  thou  liest  down,  thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  : 

Yea,  thou  shalt  lie  down,  and  thy  sleep  shall  be  sweet. 

Be  not  afraid  of  sudden  fear. 

Neither  of  the  desolation  of  the  wicked,  when  it  cometh 

For  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  confidence, 

And  shall  keep  thy  foot  from  being  taken. 

Withhold  not  good  from  them  to  whom  it  is  due, 
When  it  is  in  the  power  of  thine  hand  to  do  it. 


5<    .-;'>^ 


/^/ 


^^S•.^ 


In  all  thy  wars  acknowledge  hini, 

Alul    hr'  shall   divPrt-   thv   pal-.ris. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Say  not  unto  thy  neighbour,  "  Go,  and  come  again,  and  to-morrow 

I  will  give  ;" 
When  thou  hast  it  by  thee. 

Devise  not  evil  against  thy  neighbour. 
Seeing  he  dwelleth  securely  by  thee. 
Strive  not  with  a  man  without  cause, 
If  he  have  done  thee  no  harm. 
Envy  thou  not  the  oppressor. 
And  choose  none  of  his  ways. 
For  the  froward  is  abomination  to  the  Lord  : 
But  his  secret  is  with  the  righteous. 
The  curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house  of  the  wicked  : 
But  he  blesseth  the  habitation  of  the  just. 
Surely  he  scorneth  the  scorners  : 
But  he  giveth  grace  unto  the  lowly. 
The  wise  shall  inherit  glory  : 
But  shame  shall  be  the  promotion  of  fools. 

Hear,  ye  children,  the  instruction  of  a  father. 

And  attend  to  know  understanding. 

For  I  give  you  good  doctrine, 

Forsake  ye  not  my  law. 

For  I  was  my  father's  son. 

Tender  and  only  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mother. 

He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto  me, 

"  Let  thine  heart  retain  my  words  : 

Keep  my  commandments,  and  live. 

Get  wisdom,  get  understanding  : 

Forget  it  not ;  neither  decline  from  the  words  of  my  mouth. 

Forsake  her  not,  and  she  shall  preserve  thee  : 

Love  her,  and  she  shall  keep  thee. 

Wisdom  is  the  principal  thing  ;  therefore  get  Avisdom  : 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON, 


And  with  all  thy  getting  get  understanding. 

Exalt  her,  and  she  shall  promote  thee  :  ■ 

She  shall  bring  thee  to  honour,  when  thou  dost  embrace  her. 

She  shall  give  to  thine  head  an  ornament  of  grace  : 

A  crown  of  glory  shall  she  deliver  to  thee." 

Hear,  O  my  son,  and  receive  my  sayings  ; 

And  the  years  of  thy  life  shall  be  many. 

I  have  taught  thee  in  the  way  of  wisdom  ; 

I  have  led  thee  in  right  paths. 

When  thou  goest,  thy  steps  shall  not  be  straitened  ; 

And  when  thou  runnest,  thou  shalt  not  stumble. 

Take  fast  hold  of  instruction  ;  let  her  not  go  : 

Keep  her,  for  she  is  thy  life. 

Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked,  and  go  not  in  the  way  of  evil  men  ; 

Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it, 

Turn  from  it,  and  pass  away. 

For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  have  done  mischief ; 

And  their  sleep  is  taken  away,  unless  they  cause  some  to  fall. 

For  they  eat  the  bread  of  wickedness, 

And  drink  the  wine  of  violence. 

But  the  path  of  the  just  is  as  the  shining  light, 

That  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 

The  way  of  the  wicked  is  as  darkness  : 

They  know  not  at  what  they  stumble. 

My  son,  attend  to  my  words  ; 

Incline  thine  ear  unto  my  sayings. 

Let  them  not  depart  from  thine  eyes  ; 

Keep  them  in  the  midst  of  thine  heart. 

For  they  are  life  unto  those  that  find  them, 

And  health  to  all  their  flesh. 

Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence  ; 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


For  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life. 

Put  away  from  thee  a  froward  mouth, 

And  perverse  lips  put  far  from  thee. 

Let  thine  eyes  look  right  on, 

And  let  thine  eyelids  look  straight  before  thee. 

Ponder  the  path  of  thy  feet, 

And  let  all  thy  ways  be  established. 

Turn  not  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left  : 

Remove  thy  foot  from  evil. 

My  son,  attend  unto  my  wisdom. 

And  bow  thine  ear  to  my  understanding  : 

That  thou  mayest  regard  discretion, 

And  that  thy  lips  may  keep  knowledge. 

For  the  lips  of  a  strange  woman  drop  as  an  honeycomb. 

And  her  mouth  is  smoother  than  oil  : 

But  her  end  is  bitter  as  wormwood. 

Sharp  as  a  two-edged  sword. 

Her  feet  go  down  to  death  ; 

Her  steps  take  hold  on  hell. 

Lest  thou  shouldest  ponder  the  path  of  life. 

Her  ways  are  moveable,  that  thou  canst  not  know  them. 

Hear  me  now  therefore,  O  ye  children, 

And  depart  not  from  the  words  of  my  mouth. 

Remove  thy  way  far  from  her. 

And  come  not  nigh  the  door  of  her  house  : 

Lest  thou  give  thine  honour  unto  others, 

And  thy  years  unto  the  cruel  : 

Lest  strangers  be  filled  with  thy  wealth  ; 

And  thy  labours  be  in  the  house  of  a  stranger  ; 

And  thou  mourn  at  the  last. 


lO  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


When  thy  flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed, 

And  say,  "  How  have  I  hated  instruction, 

And  my  heart  despised  reproof ; 

And  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  my  teachers. 

Nor  inclined  mine  ear  to  them  that  instructed  me  ! 

I  was  almost  in  all  evil 

In  the  midst  of  the  congregation  and  assembly." 

Drink  waters  out  of  thine  own  cistern, 

And  running  waters  out  of  thine  own  well. 

Let  thy  fountains  be  dispersed  abroad. 

And  rivers  of  waters  in  the  streets  ; 

Let  them  be  only  thine  own, 

And  not  strangers'  with  thee. 

Let  thy  fountain  be  blessed  : 

And  rejoice  with  the  wife  of  thy  youth. 

Let  her  be  as  the  loving  hind  and  pleasant  roe ; 

Let  her  breasts  satisfy  thee  at  all  times  ; 

And  be  thou  ravished  always  with  her  love. 

And  why  wilt  thou,  my  son,  be  ravished  with  a  strange  woman, 

And  embrace  the  bosom  of  a  stranger  1 

For  the  ways  of  man  are  before  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 

And  he  pondereth  all  his  goings. 

His  own  iniquities  shall  take  the  wicked  himself, 

And  he  shall  be  holden  with  the  cords  of  his  sins. 

He  shall  die  without  instruction  ; 
And  in  the  greatness  of  his  folly  he  shall  go  astray. 

My  son,  if  thou  be  surety  for  thy  friend. 
If  thou  hast  stricken  thy  hand  with  a  stranger, 
Thou  art  snared  with  the  words  of  thy  mouth, 
Thou  art  taken  with  the  words  of  thy  mouth. 

Do  this  now,  my  son,  and  deliver  thyself. 


IV. 


Come  not  nigh  the  door  of  her  house  : 
Lest  thou  give  thine  honour  unto  others, 
And  thy  years  unto  the  cruel. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


When  thou  art  come  into  the  hand  of  thy  friend  ; 

Go,  humble  thyself,  and  make  sure  thy  friend. 

Give  not  sleep  to  thine  eyes, 

Nor  slumber  to  thine  eyelids. 

Deliver  thyself  as  a  roe  from  the  hand  of  the  hunter, 

And  as  a  bird  from  the  hand  of  the  fowler. 

Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard  ; 

Consider  her  ways,  and  be  wise  : 

Which  having  no  guide,  overseer,  or  ruler, 

Provideth  her  meat  in  the  summer. 

And  gathereth  her  food  in  the  harvest. 

How  long  wilt  thou  sleep,  O  sluggard  1 

When  wilt  thou  arise  out  of  thy  sleep  1 

Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber, 

A  little  folding  of  the  hands  to  sleep  : 

So  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that  travelleth. 

And  thy  want  as  an  armed  man. 

A  naughty  person,  a  wicked  man, 

Walketh  with  a  froward  mouth. 

He  winketh  with  his  eyes. 

He  speaketh  with  his  feet, 

He  teacheth  with  his  fingers  ; 

Frowardness  is  in  his  heart,  he  deviseth  mischief  continually  ; 

He  soweth  discord. 

Therefore  shall  his  calamity  come  suddenly  ; 

Suddenly  shall  he  be  broken  without  remedy. 

These  six  things  doth  the  Lord  hate  : 

Yea,  seven  are  an  abomination  unto  him  : 

A  proud  look,  a  lying  tongue. 

And  hands  that  shed  innocent  blood, 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


An  heart  that  deviseth  wicked  imaginations, 

Feet  that  be  swift  in  running  to  mischief, 

A  false  witness  that  speaketh  hes, 

And  he  that  soweth  discord  among  brethren. 

My  son,  keep  thy  father's  commandment, 

And  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother  : 

Bind  them  continually  upon  thine  heart, 

And  tie  them  about  thy  neck. 

When  thou  goest,  it  shall  lead  thee  ; 

When  thou  sleepest,  it  shall  keep  thee  ; 

And  when  thou  awakest,  it  shall  talk  with  thee. 

For  the  commandment  is  a  lamp  ;  and  the  law  is  light  : 

And  reproofs  of  instruction  are  the  way  of  life  : 

To  keep  thee  from  the  evil  woman, 

From  the  flattery  of  the  tongue  of  a  strange  woman. 

Lust  not  after  her  beauty  in  thine  heart ; 

Neither  let  her  take  thee  with  her  eyelids. 

For  by  means  of  a  whorish  woman  a  man  is  brought  to  a  piece  of 

bread  : 

And  the  adulteress  will  hunt  for  the  precious  life. 

Can  a  man  take  fire  in  his  bosom, 

And  his  clothes  not  be  burned  1 

Can  one  go  upon  hot  coals, 

And  his  feet  not  be  burned  ? 

So  he  that  goeth  in  to  his  neighbour's  wife  ; 

Whosoever  toucheth  her  shall  not  be  innocent. 

Men  do  not  despise  a  thief. 

If  he  steal  to  satisfy  his  soul  when  he  is  hungry  ; 

But  if  he  be  found,  he  shall  restore  sevenfold  ; 

He  shall  give  all  the  substance  of  his  house. 

But  whoso  committeth  adultery  with  a  woman  lacketh  understanding  ; 

He  that  doeth  it  destroyeth  his  own  soul. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON.  13 


A  wound  and  dishonour  shall  he  get ; 

And  his  reproach  shall  not  be  wiped  away. 

For  jealousy  is  the  rage  of  a  man  : 

Therefore  he  will  not  spare  in  the  day  of  vengeance. 

He  will  not  regard  any  ransom  ; 

Neither  will  he  rest  content,  though  thou  givest  many  gifts. 

My  son,  keep  my  words, 

And  lay  up  my  commandments  with  thee. 

Keep  my  commandments,  and  live  ; 

And  my  law  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye. 

Bind  them  upon  thy  fingers. 

Write  them  upon  the  table  of  thine  heart. 

Say  unto  wisdom.  Thou  art  my  sister  ; 

And  call  understanding  thy  kinswoman  : 

That  they  may  keep  thee  from  the  strange  woman. 

From  the  stranger  which  flattereth  with  her  words. 

For  at  the  window  of  my  house  I  looked  through  my  casement, 

And  beheld  among  the  simple  ones, 

I  discerned  among  the  youths,  a  young  man  void  of  understanding, 

Passing  through  the  street  near  her  corner  ; 

And  he  went  the  way  to  her  house, 

In  the  twilight,  in  the  evening. 

In  the  black  and  dark  night  : 

And,  behold,  there  met  him  a  woman 

With  the  attire  of  an  harlot,  and  subtil  of  heart. 

(She  is  loud  and  stubborn  ; 

Her  feet  abide  not  in  her  house  : 

Now  is  she  without,  now  in  the  streets, 

And  lieth  in  wait  at  every  corner.) 

So  she  caught  him,  and  kissed  him. 

And  with  an  impudent  face  said  unto  him, 


14  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


"  I  have  peace  offerings  with  me  ; 

This  day  have  I  paid  my  vows. 

Therefore  came  I  forth  to  meet  thee, 

Diligently  to  seek  thy  face,  and  I  have  found  thee. 

I  have  decked  my  bed  with  coverings  of  tapestry, 

With  carved  works,  with  fine  linen  of  EgyjDt. 

I  have  perfumed  my  bed  with  myrrh,  aloes,  and  cinnamon. 

Come,  let  us  take  our  fill  of  love  until  the  morning  : 

Let  us  solace  ourselves  with  loves. 

For  the  goodman  is  not  at  home, 

He  is  gone  a  long  journey  : 

He  hath  taken  a  bag  of  money  with  him, 

And  will  come  home  at  the  day  appointed." 

With  her  much  fair  speech  she  caused  him  to  yield, 

With  the  flattering  of  her  lips  she  forced  him. 

He  goeth  after  her  straightway, 

As  an  ox  goeth  to  the  slaughter, 

Or  as  a  fool  to  the  correction  of  the  stocks  ; 

Till  a  dart  strike  through  his  liver  : 

As  a  bird  hasteth  to  the  snare, 

And  knoweth  not  that  it  is  for  his  life. 

Hearken  unto  me  now  therefore,  O  ye  children, 
And  attend  to  the  words  of  my  mouth. 
Let  not  thine  heart  decline  to  her  ways. 

Go  not  astray  in  her  paths. 

For  she  hath  cast  down  many  wounded  : 

Yea,  many  strong  men  have  been  slain  by  her. 

Her  house  is  the  way  to  hell. 

Going  down  to  the  chambers  of  death. 

Doth  not  wisdom  cry  ? 
And  understanding  put  forth  her  voice  1 


I  discerned  among  the  youths,  a  yoime  n-\an  void  of  viiiderstandmg. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  1 5 


She  standeth  in  the  top  of  high  places, 

By  the  way  in  the  places  of  the  paths. 

She  crieth  at  the  gates,  at  the  entry  of  the  city. 

At  the  coming  in  at  the  doors. 

"  Unto  you,  O  men,  I  call ; 

And  my  voice  is  to  the  sons  of  man. 

O  ye  simple,  understand  wisdom  : 

And,  ye  fools,  be  ye  of  an  understanding  heart. 

Hear  ;  for  I  will  speak  of  excellent  things  ; 

And  the  opening  of  my  lips  shall  be  right  things ; 

For  my  mouth  shall  speak  truth  ; 

And  wickedness  is  an  abomination  to  my  lips. 

All  the  words  of  my  mouth  are  in  righteousness  ; 

There  is  nothing  froward  or  perverse  in  them. 

They  are  all  plain  to  him  that  understandeth, 

And  right  to  them  that  find  knowledge. 

Receive  my  instruction,  and  not  silver  ; 

And  knowledge  rather  than  choice  gold. 

For  wisdom  is  better  than  rubies  ; 

And  all  the  things  that  may  be  desired  are  not  to  be  compared  to  it. 

I  wisdom  dwell  with  prudence, 

And  find  out  knowledge  of  witty  inventions. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  to  hate  evil  : 

Pride,  and  arrogancy,  and  the  evil  way,  and  the  froward  mouth,  do  I  hate. 

Counsel  is  mine,  and  sound  wisdom  : 

I  am  understanding ;  I  have  strength. 

By  me  kings  reign, 

And  princes  decree  justice. 

By  me  princes  rule. 

And  nobles,  even  all  the  judges  of  the  earth. 

I  love  them  that  love  me  ; 
And  those  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me. 


1 6  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Riches  and  honour  are  with  me  ; 

Yea,  durable  riches  and  righteousness. 

My  fruit  is  better  than  gold,  yea,  than  fine  gold  ; 

And  my  revenue  than  choice  silver. 

I  lead  in  the  way  of  righteousness, 

In  the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judgment  : 

That  I  may  cause  those  that  love  me  to  inherit  substance  ; 

And  I  will  fill  their  treasures. 

The  Lord  possessed  me  in  the  beginning  of  his  way. 

Before  his  works  of  old. 

I  was  set  up  from  everlasting, 

From  the  beginning,  or  ever  the  earth  was. 

When  there  were  no  depths,  I  was  brought  forth  ; 

When  there  were  no  fountains  abounding  with  water. 

Before  the  mountains  were  settled. 

Before  the  hills,  was  I  brought  forth  : 

While  as  yet  he  had  not  made  the  earth,  nor  the  fields. 

Nor  the  highest  part  of  the  dust  of  the  world. 

When  he  prepared  the  heavens,  I  was  there  : 

When  he  set  a  compass  upon  the  face  of  the  depth  : 

When  he  established  the  clouds  above  : 
When  he  strengthened  the  fountains  of  the  deep  : 

When  he  gave  to  the  sea  his  decree. 

That  the  waters  should  not  pass  his  commandment  : 

When  he  appointed  the  foundations  of  the  earth  : 

Then  I  was  by  him,  as  one  brought  up  with  him  : 

And  I  was  daily  his  delight,  rejoicing  always  before  him  ; 

Rejoicing  in  the  habitable  part  of  his  earth  ; 

And  my  delights  Avere  wdth  the  sons  of  men. 

Now  therefore  hearken  unto  me,  O  ye  children  : 
For  blessed  are  they  that  keep  my  ways. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  1 7 


Hear  instruction,  and  be  wise, 

And  refuse  it  not. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  heareth  me, 

Watching  daily  at  my  gates, 

Waiting  at  the  posts  of  my  doors. 

For  whoso  findeth  me  findeth  life, 

And  shall  obtain  favour  of  the  Lord. 

But  he  that  sinneth  against  me  wrongeth  his  own  soul  : 

All  they  that  hate  me  love  death." 

Wisdom  hath  builded  her  house. 

She  hath  hewn  out  her  seven  pillars  : 

She  hath  killed  her  beasts  ; 

She  hath  mingled  her  wine  ;  she  hath  also  furnished  her  table. 

She  hath  sent  forth  her  maidens  : 

She  crieth  upon  the  highest  places  of  the  city, 

"  Whoso  is  simple,  let  him  turn  in  hither  : " 

As  for  him  that  wanteth  understanding,  she  saith  to  him, 

"  Come,  eat  of  my  bread. 

And  drink  of  the  wine  which  I  have  mingled. 

Forsake  the  foolish,  and  live  ; 

And  go  in  the  way  of  understanding." 

He  that  reproveth  a  scorner  getteth  to  himself  shame  : 

And  he  that  rebuketh  a  wicked  man  getteth  himself  a  blot. 

Reprove  not  a  scorner, 

Lest  he  hate  thee  : 

Rebuke  a  wise  man. 

And  he  will  love  thee. 

Give  instruction  to  a  wise  man, 

And  he  will  be  yet  wiser  : 

Teach  a  just  man, 

And  he  will  increase  in  learning. 


I         1 8  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 

I  '■ — ' ~ 

I 

I 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  : 
And  the  knowledge  of  the  holy  is  understanding. 
j  For  by  me  thy  days  shall  be  multiplied, 

1  And  the  years  of  thy  life  shall  be  increased. 

If  thou  be  wise,  thou  shalt  be  wise  for  thyself : 
But  if  thou  scornest,  thou  alone  shalt  bear  it. 

A  foolish  woman  is  clamorous  : 

She  is  simple,  and  knoweth  nothing. 

For  she  sitteth  at  the  door  of  her  house, 

On  a  seat,  in  the  high  places  of  the  city, 

To  call  passengers  who  go  right  on  their  ways  : 

"Whoso  is  simple,  let  him  turn  in  hither  : " 

And  as  for  him  that  wanteth  understanding,  she  saith  to  him, 

"Stolen  waters  are  sweet, 

And  bread  eaten  in  secret  is  pleasant." 

But  he  knoweth  not  that  the  dead  are  there  ; 

And  that  her  guests  are  in  the  depths  of  hell. 


K 


\ 


la  w^ymPLf    — ^:i 


VI. 


The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  be°lnnine'  of  wisdom. 


Part  II. 

ETHICAL   MAXIMS   AND   PRECEPT5. 


THE  PROVERBS  OF  SOLOMON. 

A  WISE  son  maketh  a  glad  father  : 
But  a  foolish  son  is  the  heaviness  of  his  mother. 

Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing  : 
But  righteousness  delivereth  from  death. 

The  Lord  will  not  suffer  the  soul  of  the  righteous  to  famisli : 
But  he  casteth  away  the  substance  of  the  wicked. 

He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack  hand  : 
But  the  hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich. 

He  that  gathereth  in  summer  is  a  wise  son  : , 
But  he  that  sleepeth  in  harvest  is  a  son  that  causeth  shame. 

Blessings  are  upon  the  head  of  the  just : 
But  violence  covereth  the  mouth  of  the  wicked. 

The  memoiy  of  the  just  is  blessed  : 
But  the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot. 

The  wise  in  heart  will  receive  commandments  : 
But  a  prating  fool  shall  fall. 

He  that  walketh  uprightly  walketh  surely  : 
But  he  that  perverteth  his  ways  shall  be  known. 

He  that  winketh  with  the  eye  causeth  sorrow  : 
But  a  prating  fool  shall  fall. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


The  mouth  of  a  righteous  man  is  a  well  of  life  : 
But  violence  covereth  the  mouth  of  the  wicked. 

Hatred  stirreth  up  strifes  : 
But  love  covereth  all  sins. 

In  the  lips  of  him  that  hath  understanding  wisdom  is  found  : 
I  But  a  rod  is  for  the  back  of  him  that  is  void  of  understanding 

Wise  men  lay  up  knowledge  : 
But  the  mouth  of  the  foolish  is  near  destruction. 

The  rich  man's  wealth  is  his  strong  city  : 
The  destruction  of  the  poor  is  their  poverty. 

The  labour  of  the  righteous  tendeth  to  life  : 
The  fruit  of  the  wicked  to  sin. 

He  is  in  the  way  of  life  that  keepeth  instruction  : 
But  he  that  refuseth  reproof  erreth. 

He  that  hideth  hatred  with  lying  lips, 
And  he  that  uttereth  a  slander,  is  a  fool. 

In  the  multitude  of  words  there  wanteth  not  sin  : 
But  he  that  refraineth  his  lips  is  wise. 

The  tongue  of  the  just  is  as  choice  silver  : 
The  heart  of  the  wicked  is  little  worth. 

The  lips  of  the  righteous  feed  many  : 
But  fools  die  for  want  of  wisdom. 


,,««^\  ,c  - .-;;  -^:?*a"tJ  i-y 


A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad  father. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  23 


The  blessing  of  the  Lord,  it  maketh  rich, 
And  he  addeth  no  sorrow  with  it. 

It  is  as  sport  to  a  fool  to  do  mischief : 
But  a  man  of  understanding  hath  wisdom. 

The  fear  of  the  wicked,  it  shall  come  upon  him  : 
But  the  desire  of  the  righteous  shall  be  granted. 

As  the  whirlwind  passeth,  so  is  the  wicked  no  more 
But  the  righteous  is  an  everlasting  foundation. 

As  vinegar  to  the  teeth,  and  as  smoke  to  the  eyes. 
So  is  the  sluggard  to  them  that  send  him. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  prolongeth  days  : 
But  the  years  of  the  wicked  shall  be  shortened. 

The  hope  of  the  righteous  shall  be  gladness  : 
But  the  expectation  of  the  wicked  shall  perish. 

The  way  of  the  Lord  is  strength  to  the  upright : 
But  destruction  shall  be  to  the  workers  of  iniquity. 

The  righteous  shall  never  be  removed  : 
But  the  wicked  shall  not  inhabit  the  earth. 

The  mouth  of  the  just  bringeth  forth  wisdom  : 
But  the  froward  tongue  shall  be  cut  out. 

The  lips  of  the  righteous  know  what  is  acceptable  : 
But  the  mouth  of  the  wicked  speaketh  frowardness. 


24  THE   PROVERBS    OF   SOLOMON. 


A  false  balance  is  abomination  to  tlie  Lord  : 
But  a  just  weight  is  his  delight. 

When  pride  cometh,  then  cometh  shame  : 
But  with  the  lowly  is  wisdom. 

The  integrity  of  the  upright  shall  guide  them  : 
But  the  perverseness  of  transgressors  shall  destroy  them. 

Riches  profit  not  in  the  day  of  wrath  : 
But  righteousness  delivereth  from  death. 

The  righteousness  of  the  perfect  shall  direct  his  way  : 
But  the  wicked  shall  fall  by  his  own  wickedness. 

The  righteousness  of  the  upright  shall  deliver  them  : 
But  transgressors  shall  be  taken  in  their  own  naughtiness. 

When  a  wicked  man  dieth,  his  expectation  shall  perish  : 
And  the  hope  of  unjust  men  perisheth. 

The  righteous  is  delivered  out  of  trouble, 
And  the  wicked  cometh  in  his  stead. 

An  hypocrite  with  his  mouth  destroyeth  his  neighbour  : 
But  through  knowledge  shall  the  just  be  delivered. 

When  it  goeth  well  with  the  righteous,  the  city  rejoiceth  : 
And  when  the  wicked  perish,  there  is  shouting. 

By  the  blessing  of  the  upright  the  city  is  exalted  : 
But  it  is  overthrown  by  the  mouth  of  the  wicked. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  25 


He  that  is  void  of  wisdom  despiseth  his  neighbour  : 
But  a  man  of  understanding  holdeth  his  peace. 

A  talebearer  revealeth  secrets  : 
But  he  that  is  of  a  faithful  spirit  concealeth  the  matter. 

Where  no  counsel  is,  the  people  fall  : 
But  in  the  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is  safety. 

He  that  is  surety  for  a  stranger  shall  smart  for  it  : 
And  he  that  hateth  suretiship  is  sure. 

A  gracious  woman  retaineth  honour  : 
And  strong  men  retain  riches. 

The  merciful  man  doeth  good  to  his  own  soul  : 
But  he  that  is  cruel  troubleth  his  own  flesh. 

The  Avicked  worketh  a  deceitful  work  : 
But  to  him  that  soweth  righteousness  shall  be  a  sure  reward. 

As  righteousness  tendeth  to  life  : 
So  he  that  pursueth  evil  pursueth  it  to  his  own  death. 

They  that  are  of  a  froward  heart  are  abomination  to  the  Lord  : 
But  such  as  are  upright  in  their  way  are  his  delight. 

Though  hand  join  in  hand,  the  wicked  shall  not  be  unpunished 
But  the  seed  of  the  righteous  shall  be  delivered. 

As  a  jewel  of  gold  in  a  swine's  snout, 
So  is  a  fair  woman  which  is  without  discretion. 


26  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


The  desire  of  the  righteous  is  only  good  : 
But  the  expectation  of  the  wicked  is  wrath. 

There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth  ; 
And  there  is  that  withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  to 

poverty. 

The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat : 
And  he  that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also  himself 

He  that  withholdeth  corn,  the  people  shall  curse  him  : 
But  blessing  shall  be  upon  the  head  of  him  that  selleth  it. 

He  that  diligently  seeketh  good  procureth  favour  : 
But  he  that  seeketh  mischief,  it  shall  come  unto  him. 

He  that  trusteth  in  his  riches  shall  fall  : 
But  the  righteous  shall  flourish  as  a  branch. 

He  that  troubleth  his  own  house  shall  inherit  the  wind  : 
And  the  fool  shall  be  servant  to  the  wise  of  heart. 

The  fruit  of  the  righteous  is  a  tree  of  life ; 
And  he  that  winneth  souls  is  wise. 

Behold,  the  righteous  shall  be  recompensed  in  the  earth  : 
Much  more  the  wicked  and  the  sinner. 

Whoso  loveth  instruction  loveth  knowledge  : 
But  he  that  hateth  reproof  is  brutish. 

A  good  man  obtaineth  favour  of  the  Lord  : 
But  a  man  of  wicked  devices  will  he  condemn. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  27 


A  man  shall  not  be  established  by  wickedness  : 
But  the  root  of  the  righteous  shall  not  be  moved. 

A  virtuous  woman  is  a  crown  to  her  husband  : 
But  she  that  maketh  ashamed  is  as  rottenness  in  his  bones. 

The  thoughts  of  the  righteous  are  right  : 
But  the  counsels  of  the  wicked  are  deceit. 

The  words  of  the  wicked  are  to  lie  in  wait  for  blood  : 
But  the  mouth  of  the  upright  shall  deliver  them. 

The  wicked  are  overthrown,  and  are  not  : 
But  the  house  of  the  righteous  shall  stand. 

A  man  shall  be  commended  according  to  his  wisdom  : 
But  he  that  is  of  a  perverse  heart  shall  be  despised. 

He  that  is  despised,  and  hath  a  servant, 
Is  better  than  he  that  honoureth  himself,  and  lacketh  bread. 

A  righteous  man  regardeth  the  life  of  his  beast  : 
But  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel. 

He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  be  satisfied  with  bread  : 
But  he  that  followeth  vain  persons  is  void  of  understanding. 

The  wicked  desireth  the  net  of  evil  men  : 
But  the  root  of  the  righteous  yieldeth  fruit. 

The  wicked  is  snared  by  the  transgression  of  his  lips  : 
But  the  just  shall  come  out  of  trouble. 


28  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


A  man  shall  be  satisfied  with  good  by  the  fruit  of  his  mouth  : 
And  the  recompence  of  a  man's  hands  shall  be  rendered  unto  him. 

The  way  of  a  fool  is  right  in  his  own  eyes  : 
But  he  that  hearkeneth  unto  counsel  is  wise. 

A  fool's  wrath  is  presently  known  : 
But  a  prudent  man  covereth  shame. 

He  that  speaketh  truth  sheweth  forth  righteousness  : 
But  a  false  witness  deceit. 

There  is  that  speaketh  like  the  piercings  of  a  sword  : 
But  the  tongue  of  the  wise  is  health. 

The  lip  of  truth  shall  be  established  for  ever : 
But  a  lying  tongue  is  but  for  a  moment. 

Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil  : 
But  to  the  counsellors  of  peace  is  joy. 

There  shall  no  evil  happen  to  the  just  : 
But  the  wicked  shall  be  filled  with  mischief. 

Lying  lips  are  abomination  to  the  Lord  : 
But  they  that  deal  truly  are  his  delight. 

A  prudent  man  concealeth  knowledge  : 
But  the  heart  of  fools  proclaimeth  foolishness. 

The  hand  of  the  diligent  shall  bear  rule  : 
But  the  slothful  shall  be  under  tribute. 


''"L%/>.>//:  ^' 


VIII. 
He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  be  satisfied  ^^th  bread 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  29 

Heaviness  in  the  heart  of  man  maketh  it  stoop  : 
But  a  good  word  maketh  it  glad. 

The  righteous  is  more  excellent  than  his  neighbour  : 
But  the  way  of  the  wicked  seduceth  them. 

The  slothful  man  roasteth  not  that  which  he  took  in  hunting  : 
But  the  substance  of  a  diligent  man  is  precious. 

In  the  way  of  righteousness  is  life  ; 
And  in  the  pathway  thereof  there  is  no  death. 


A  wise  son  heareth  his  father's  instruction  :  j 

But  a  scorner  heareth  not  rebuke. 

A  man  shall  eat  good  by  the  fruit  of  his  mouth  : 
But  the  soul  of  the  transgressors  shall  eat  violence. 

He  that  keepeth  his  mouth  keepeth  his  life  : 
But  he  that  openeth  wide  his  lips  shall  have  destruction. 

The  soul  of  the  sluggard  desireth,  and  hath  nothing  : 
But  the  soul  of  the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat. 

A  righteous  man  hateth  lying  : 
But  a  wicked  man  is  loathsome,  and  cometh  to  shame. 

Righteousness  keepeth  him  that  is  upright  in  the  way  : 
But  wickedness  overthroweth  the  sinner. 

There  is  that  maketh  himself  rich,  yet  hath  nothing  : 
There  is  that  maketh  himself  poor,  yet  hath  great  riches. 


30  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 

The  ransom  of  a  man's  life  are  his  riches  : 
But  the  poor  heareth  not  rebuke. 

The  light  of  the  righteous  rejoiceth  : 
But  the  lamp  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out. 

Only  by  pride  cometh  contention  : 
But  with  the  well  advised  is  wisdom. 

Wealth  gotten  by  vanity  shall  be  diminished  : 
But  he  that  gathereth  by  labour  shall  increase. 

Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick  : 
But  when  the  desire  cometh,  it  is  a  tree  of  life. 

Whoso  despiseth  the  word  shall  be  destroyed  : 
But  he  that  feareth  the  commandment  shall  be  rewarded. 

The  law  of  the  wise  is  a  fountain  of  life, 
To  depart  from  the  snares  of  death. 

Good  understanding  giveth  favour  : 
But  the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard. 

Every  prudent  man  dealeth  with  knowledge  : 
But  a  fool  layeth  open  his  folly. 

A  wicked  messenger  falleth  into  mischief : 
But  a  faithful  ambassador  is  health. 

Poverty  and  shame  shall  be  to  him  that  refuseth  instruction 
But  he  that  regardeth  reproof  shall  be  honoured. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  3 1 


The  desire  accomplished  is  sweet  to  the  soul  : 
But  it  is  abomination  to  fools  to  depart  from  evil. 

He  that  walketh  with  wise  men  shall  be  wise  : 
But  a  companion  of  fools  shall  be  destroyed. 

Evil  pursueth  sinners  : 
But  to  the  righteous  good  shall  be  repaid. 

A  good  man  leaveth  an  inheritance  to  his  children's  children 
And  the  wealth  of  the  sinner  is  laid  up  for  the  just. 

Much-  food  is  in  the  tillage  of  the  poor  : 
But  there  is  that  is  destroyed  for  want  of  judgment. 

He  that  spareth  his  rod  hateth  his  son  : 
But  he  that  loveth  him  chasteneth  him  betimes. 

The  righteous  eateth  to  the  satisfying  of  his  soul  : 
But  the  belly  of  the  wicked  shall  want. 

Every  wise  woman  buildeth  her  house  : 
But  the  foolish  plucketh  it  down  with  her  hands. 

He  that  walketh  in  his  uprightness  feareth  the  Lord  : 
But  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways  despiseth  him. 

In  the  mouth  of  the  foolish  is  a  rod  of  pride  : 
But  the  lips  of  the  wise  shall  preserve  them. 

Where  no  oxen  are,  the  crib  is  clean  : 
But  much  increase  is  by  the  strength  of  the  ox. 


I 

32  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


A  faithful  witness  will  not  lie  : 
But  a  false  witness  will  utter  lies. 

A  scorner  seeketh  wisdom,  and  findeth  it  not  : 
But  knowledge  is  easy  unto  him  that  understandeth. 

Go  from  the  presence  of  a  foolish  man, 
When  thou  perceivest  not  in  him  the  lips  of  knowledge. 

The  wisdom  of  the  prudent  is  to  understand  his  way  : 
But  the  folly  of  fools  is  deceit. 

k  Fools  make  a  mock  at  sin  : 

But  among  the  righteous  there  is  favour. 

The  heart  knoweth  his  own  bitterness  ; 
And  a  stranger  doth  not  intermeddle  with  his  joy. 

The  house  of  the  wicked  shall  be  overthrown  : 
But  the  tabernacle  of  the  upright  shall  flourish. 

There  is  a  way  which  seemeth  right  unto  a  man. 
But  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of  death. 

Even  in  laughter  the  heart  is  sorrowful  ; 
And  the  end  of  that  mirth  is  heaviness. 

The  backslider  in  heart  shall  be  filled  with  his  own  ways 
And  a  good  man  shall  be  satisfied  from  himself 

The  simple  believeth  every  word  : 
But  the  prudent  man  looketh  well  to  his  going. 


THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


33 


A  wise  man  feareth,  and  departeth  from  evil  : 
But  the  fool  rageth,  and  is  confident. 

He  that  is  soon  angry  dealeth  foolishly  : 
And  a  man  of  wicked  devices  is  hated. 

The  simple  inherit  folly  : 
But  the  prudent  are  crowned  with  knowledge. 

The  evil  bow  before  the  good  ; 
And  the  wicked  at  the  gates  of  the  righteous. 

The  poor  is  hated  even  of  his  own  neighbour  : 
But  the  rich  hath  many  friends. 

He  that  despiseth  his  neighbour  sinneth  : 
But  he  that  hath  mercy  on  the  poor,  happy  is  he. 

Do  they  not  err  that  devise  evil  1 
But  mercy  and  truth  shall  be  to  them  that  devise  good. 

In  all  labour  there  is  profit : 
But  the  talk  of  the  lips  tendeth  only  to  penury. 

The  crown  of  the  wise  is  their  riches  : 
But  the  foolishness  of  fools  is  folly. 

A  true  witness  delivereth  souls  : 
But  a  deceitful  witness  speaketh  lies. 

In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  strong  confidence  : 
And  his  children  shall  have  a  place  of  refuge. 


34 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  a  fountain  of  life, 
To  depart  from  the  snares  of  death. 

In  the  mukitude  of  people  is  the  king's  honour  : 
But  in  the  want  of  people  is  the  destruction  of  the  prince. 

He  that  is  slow  to  wrath  is  of  great  understanding  : 
But  he  that  is  hasty  of  spirit  exalteth  folly. 

A  sound  heart  is  the  life  of  the  flesh  : 
But  envy  the  rottenness  of  the  bones. 

He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  reproacheth  his  Maker : 
But  he  that  honoureth  him  hath  mercy  on  the  poor. 

The  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his  wickedness  : 
But  the  righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death. 

Wisdom  resteth  in  the  heart  of  him  that  hath  understanding 
But  that  which  is  in  the  midst  of  fools  is  made  known. 

Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation  : 
But  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people. 

The  king's  favour  is  toward  a  wise  servant : 
But  his  wrath  is  against  him  that  causeth  shame. 

A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath  : 
But  grievous  words  stir  up  anger. 

The  tongue  of  the  wise  useth  knowledge  aright  : 
But  the  mouth  of  fools  poureth  out  foolishness. 


.r-l«ill'' 


Ith  I' 


In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  strong-  confidence. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  35 


The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  in  every  place, 
Beholding  the  evil  and  the  good. 

A  wholesome  tongue  is  a  tree  of  life  : 
But  perverseness  therein  is  a  breach  in  the  spirit. 

A  fool  despiseth  his  father's  instruction  : 
But  he  that  regardeth  reproof  is  prudent. 

In  the  house  of  the  righteous  is  much  treasure  : 
But  in  the  revenues  of  the  wicked  is  trouble. 

The  lips  of  the  wise  disperse  knowledge  : 
But  the  heart  of  the  foolish  doeth  not  so. 

The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord 
But  the  prayer  of  the  upright  is  his  delight. 

The  way  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord  : 
But  he  loveth  him  that  followeth  after  righteousness. 

Correction  is  grievous  unto  him  that  forsaketh  the  way  : 
And  he  that  hateth  reproof  shall  die. 

Hell  and  destruction  are  before  the  Lord  : 
How  much  more  then  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men  1 

A  scorner  loveth  not  one  that  reproveth  him  : 
Neither  will  he  go  unto  the  wise. 

A  merry  heart  maketh  a  cheerful  countenance  : 
But  by  sorrow  of  the  heart  the  spirit  is  broken. 


! 

I        36  THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


The  heart  of  him  that  hath  understanding  seeketh  knowledge 
But  the  mouth  of  fools  feedeth  on  fooHshness. 

All  the  days  of  the  afflicted  are  evil  : 
But  he  that  is  of  a  merry  heart  hath  a  continual  feast. 

Better  is  little  with  the  fear  of  the  Lord 
Than  great  treasure  and  trouble  therewith. 

Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is, 
Than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred  therewith. 

A  wrathful  man  stirreth  up  strife  : 
But  he  that  is  slow  to  anger  appeaseth  strife. 

The  way  of  the  slothful  man  is  as  an  hedge  of  thorns  : 
But  the  way  of  the  righteous  is  made  plain. 

A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad  father  : 
But  a  foolish  man  despiseth  his  mother. 

Folly  is  joy  to  him  that  is  destitute  of  wisdom  : 
But  a  man  of  understanding  walketh  uprightly. 

Without  counsel  purposes  are  disappointed  : 
But  in  the  multitude  of  counsellors  they  are  established. 

A  man  hath  joy  by  the  answer  of  his  mouth  : 
And  a  word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it ! 

The  way  of  life  is  above  to  the  wise, 
That  he  may  depart  from  hell  beneath. 


THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON.  37 


The  Lord  will  destroy  the  house  of  the  proud  : 
But  he  will  establish  the  border  of  the  widow. 

The  thoughts  of  the  wicked  are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord  : 
But  the  words  of  the  pure  are  pleasant  words. 

He  that  is  greedy  of  gain  troubleth  his  own  house  : 
But  he  that  hateth  gifts  shall  live. 

The  heart  of  the  righteous  studieth  to  answer  : 
But  the  mouth  of  the  wicked  poureth  out  evil  things. 

The  Lord  is  far  from  the  wicked  : 
But  he  heareth  the  prayer  of  the  righteous. 

The  light  of  the  eyes  rejoiceth  the  heart  : 
And  a  good  report  maketh  the  bones  fat. 

The  ear  that  heareth  the  reproof  of  life  abideth  among  the  wise. 

He  that  refuseth  instruction  despiseth  his  own  soul : 
But  he  that  heareth  reproof  getteth  understanding. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  instruction  of  wisdom  ; 
And  before  honour  is  humility. 

The  preparations  of  the  heart  in  man, 
And  the  answer  of  the  tongue,  is  from  the  Lord. 

All  the  ways  of  a  man  are  clean  in  his  own  eyes ; 
But  the  Lord  weigheth  the  spirits. 

Commit  thy  works  unto  the  Lord, 
And  thy  thoughts  shall  be  established. 


38  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


The  Lord  hath  made  all  things  for  himself : 
Yea,  even  the  wicked  for  the  day  of  evil. 

Every  one  that  is  proud  in  heart  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord 
Though  hand  join  in  hand,  he  shall  not  be  unpunished. 

By  mercy  and  truth  iniquity  is  purged  : 
And  by  the  fear  of  the  Lord  men  depart  from  evil. 

When  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord, 
He  maketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him. 

Better  is  a  little  with  righteousness 
Than  great  revenues  without  right. 

A  man's  heart  deviseth  his  way  : 
But  the  Lord  directeth  his  steps. 

A  divine  sentence  is  in  the  lips  of  the  king  : 
His  mouth  transgresseth  not  in  judgment. 

A  just  weight  and  balance  are  the  Lord's  : 
All  the  weights  of  the  bag  are  his  work. 

It  is  an  abomination  to  kings  to  commit  wickedness  : 
For  the  throne  is  established  by  righteousness. 

Righteous  lips  are  the  delight  of  kings  ; 
And  they  love  him  that  speaketh  right. 

The  wrath  of  a  king  is  as  messengers  of  death  : 
But  a  wise  man  will  pacify  it. 


^??ro;7s^?^^js,viLxk\t^M^;^  -~^^ 


Better  is  a  little  with  righteousness 
Than  great  revenues  without  right. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  39 


In  the  light  of  the  king's  countenance  is  Hfe  ; 
And  his  favour  is  as  a  cloud  of  the  latter  rain. 


How  much  better  is  it  to  get  wisdom  than  gold  ! 
And  to  get  understanding  rather  to  be  chosen  than  silver ! 

The  highway  of  the  upright  is  to  depart  from  evil : 
He  that  keepeth  his  way  preserveth  his  soul. 

Pride  goeth  before  destruction, 
And  an  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall. 

Better  it  is  to  be  of  an  humble  spirit  with  the  lowly, 
Than  to  divide  the  spoil  with  the  proud. 

He  that  handleth  a  matter  wisely  shall  find  good  : 
And  whoso  trusteth  in  the  Lord,  happy  is  he. 

The  wise  in  heart  shall  be  called  prudent : 
And  the  sweetness  of  the  lips  increaseth  learning. 

Understanding  is  a  wellspring  of  lite  unto  him  that  hath  it : 
But  the  instruction  of  fools  is  folly. 

The  heart  of  the  wise  teacheth  his  mouth. 
And  addeth  learning  to  his  lips. 

Pleasant  words  are  as  an  honeycomb, 
Sweet  to  the  soul,  and  health  to  the  bones. 

There  is  a  way  that  seemeth  right  unto  a  man. 
But  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of  death. 


40  THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON, 


He  that  laboureth  laboureth  for  himself; 
For  his  mouth  craveth  it  of  him. 

An  ungodly  man  diggeth  up  evil  : 
And  in  his  lips  there  is  as  a  burning  fire. 

A  froward  man  soweth  strife  ; 
And  a  whisperer  separateth  chief  friends. 

A  violent  man  enticeth  his  neighbour, 
And  leadeth  him  into  the  way  that  is  not  good. 

He  shutteth  his  eyes  to  devise  froward  things  : 
Moving  his  lips  he  bringeth  evil  to  pass. 

The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory, 
If  it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 

He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty ; 
And  he  that  ruleth  his  si:)irit  than  he  that  taketh  a  city. 

The  lot  is  cast  into  the  lap  ; 
But  the  whole  disposing  thereof  is  of  the  Lord. 

Better  is  a  dry  morsel,  and  quietness  therewith, 
Than  an  house  full  of  sacrifices  Avith  strife. 

A  wise  servant  shall  have  rule  over  a  son  that  causeth  shame, 
And  shall  have  part  of  the  inheritance  among  the  brethren. 

The  fining  pot  is  for  silver,  and  the  furnace  for  gold  : 
But  the  Lord  trieth  the  hearts. 


'k 


The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory, 
If  it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  41 


A  wicked  doer  giveth  heed  to  false  lips  ; 
And  a  liar  giveth  ear  to  a  naughty  tongue. 

Whoso  mocketh  the  poor  reproacheth  his  Maker  : 
And  he  that  is  glad  at  calamities  shall  not  be  unpunished. 

Children's  children  are  the  crown  of  old  men  ; 
And  the  glory  of  children  are  their  fathers. 

Excellent  speech  becometh  not  a  fool  : 
Much  less  do  lying  lips  a  prince. 

A  gift  is  as  a  precious  stone  in  the  eyes  of  him  that  hath  it 
Whithersoever  it  turneth,  it  prospereth. 

He  that  covereth  a  transgression  seeketh  love  ; 
But  he  that  repeateth  a  matter  separateth  very  friends. 

A  reproof  entereth  more  into  a  wise  man 
Than  an  hundred  stripes  into  a  fool. 

An  evil  man  seeketh  only  rebellion  : 
Therefore  a  cruel  messenger  shall  be  sent  against  him. 

Let  a  bear  robbed  of  her  whelps  meet  a  man, 
Rather  than  a  fool  in  his  folly. 

Whoso  rewardeth  evil  for  good, 
Evil  shall  not  depart  from  his  house. 

The  beginning  of  strife  is  as  when  one  letteth  out  water  : 
Therefore  leave  off  contention,  before  it  be  meddled  with. 


42  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


He  that  justifieth  the  wicked,  and  he  that  condemneth  the  just, 
Even  they  both  are  abomination  to  the  Lord. 

Wherefore  is  there  a  price  in  the  hand  of  a  fool  to  get  wisdom. 
Seeing  he  hath  no  heart  to  it  ? 

A  friend  loveth  at  all  times, 
And  a  brother  is  born  for  adversity. 

A  man  void  of  understanding  striketh  hands. 
And  becometh  surety  in  the  presence  of  his  friend. 

He  loveth  transgression  that  loveth  strife  : 
And  he  that  exalteth  his  gate  seeketh  destruction. 

He  that  hath  a  froward  heart  findeth  no  good  : 
And  he  that  hath  a  perverse  tongue  falleth  into  mischief 

He  that  begetteth  a  fool  doeth  it  to  his  sorrow  : 
And  the  father  of  a  fool  hath  no  joy. 

A  merry  heart  doeth  good  like  a  medicine  : 
But  a  broken  spirit  drieth  the  bones. 

A  wicked  man  taketh  a  gift  out  of  the  bosom 
To  pervert  the  ways  of  judgment. 

Wisdom  is  before  him  that  hath  understanding ; 
But  the  eyes  of  a  fool  are  in  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

A  foolish  son  is  a  grief  to  his  father, 
And  bitterness  to  her  that  bare  him. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  43 


Also  to  punish  the  just  is  not  good, 
Nor  to  strike  princes  for  equity. 

He  that  hath  knowledge  spareth  his  words  : 
And  a  man  of  understanding  is  of  an  excellent  spirit. 

Even  a  fool,  when  he  holdeth  his  peace,  is  counted  wise  : 
And  he  that  shutteth  his  lips  is  esteemed  a  man  of  understanding. 

Through  desire  a  man,  having  separated  himself, 
Seeketh  and  intermeddleth  with  all  wisdom. 

A  fool  hath  no  delight  in  understanding, 
But  that  his  heart  may  discover  itself 

When  the  wicked  cometh,  then  cometh  also  contempt. 
And  with  ignominy  reproach. 

The  words  of  a  man's  mouth  are  as  deep  waters. 
And  the  wellspring  of  wisdom  as  a  flowing  brook. 

It  is  not  good  to  accept  the  person  of  the  wicked, 
To  overthrow  the  righteous  in  judgment. 

A  fool's  lips  enter  into  contention, 
And  his  mouth  calleth  for  strokes. 

A  fool's  mouth  is  his  destruction. 
And  his  lips  are  the  snare  of  his  soul. 

The  words  of  a  talebearer  are  as  wounds, 
And  they  go  down  into  the  innermost  parts  of  the  belly. 


44  THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


He  also  that  is  slothful  in  his  work 
Is  brother  to  him  that  is  a  great  waster. 

The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower  : 
The  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe. 

The  rich  man's  wealth  is  his  strong  city,  ■ 
And  as  an  high  wall  in  his  own  conceit. 

Before  destruction  the  heart  of  man  is  haughty, 
And  before  honour  is  humility. 

He  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he  heareth  it, 
It  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him. 

The  spirit  of  a  man  will  sustain  his  infirmity  ; 
But  a  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear  1 

The  heart  of  the  prudent  getteth  knowledge  ; 
And  the  ear  of  the  wise  seeketh  knowledge. 

A  man's  gift  maketh  room  for  him, 
And  bringeth  him  before  great  men. 

He  that  is  first  in  his  own  cause  seemeth  just; 
But  his  neighbour  cometh  and  searcheth  him. 

The  lot  causeth  contentions  to  cease. 
And  parteth  between  the  mighty. 

A  brother  offended  is  harder  to  be  won  than  a  strong  city  : 
And  their  contentions  are  like  the  bars  of  a  castle. 


«M[#^<sf    '  r  tn 


The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower : 
The  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON.  45 


A  man  s  belly  shall  be  satisfied  with  the  fruit  of  his  mouth  ; 
And  with  the  increase  of  his  lips  shall  he  be  filled. 

Death  and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the  tongue  : 
And  they  that  love  it  shall  eat  the  fruit  thereof. 

Whoso  findeth  a  wife  findeth  a  good  thing, 
And  obtaineth  favour  of  the  Lord. 

The  poor  useth  intreaties  ; 
But  the  rich  answereth  roughly. 

A  man  that  hath  friends  must  show  himself  friendly  : 
And  there  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother. 

Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  integrity, 
Than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  lips  and  is  a  fool. 

Also,  that  the  soul  be  without  knowledge,  it  is  not  good  ; 
And  he  that  hasteth  with  his  feet  sinneth. 

The  foolishness  of  man  perverteth  his  way  : 
And  his  heart  fretteth  against  the  Lord. 

Wealth  maketh  many  friends  ; 
But  the  poor  is  separated  from  his  neighbour. 

A  false  witness  shall  not  be  unpunished, 
And  he  that  speaketh  lies  shall  not  escape. 

Many  will  intreat  the  favour  of  the  prince  : 
And  every  man  is  a  friend  to  him  that  giveth  gifts. 


46  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


All  the  brethren  of  the  poor  do  hate  him  : 

How  much  more  do  his  friends  go  far  from  him  ? 

He  pursueth  them  with  words,  yet  they  are  wanting  to  him. 

He  that  getteth  wisdom  loveth  his  own  soul  : 
He  that  keepeth  understanding  shall  find  good. 

A  false  witness  shall  not  be  unpunished, 
And  he  that  speaketh  lies  shall  perish. 

Delight  is  not  seemly  for  a  fool ; 
Much  less  for  a  servant  to  have  rule  over  princes. 

The  discretion  of  a  man  deferreth  his  anger ; 
And  it  is  his  glory  to  pass  over  a  transgression. 

The  king's  wrath  is  as  the  roaring  of  a  lion  ; 
But  his  favour  is  as  dew  upon  the  grass. 

A  foolish  son  is  the  calamity  of  his  father : 
And  the  contentions  of  a  wife  are  a  continual  dropping. 

House  and  riches  are  the  inheritance  of  fathers  : 
And  a  prudent  wife  is  from  the  Lord. 

Slothfulness  casteth  into  a  deep  sleep  ; 
And  an  idle  soul  shall  suffer  hunger. 

He  that  keepeth  the  commandment  keepeth  his  own  soul ; 
But  he  that  despiseth  his  ways  shall  die. 

He  that  hath  pity  upon  the  poor  lendeth  unto  the  Lord  ; 
And  that  which  he  hath  given  will  he  pay  him  again. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  47 


Chasten  thy  son  while  there  is  hope, 
And  let  not  thy  soul  spare  for  his  crying. 

A  man  of  great  wrath  shall  suffer  punishment : 
For  if  thou  deliver  him,  yet  thou  must  do  it  again. 

Hear  counsel  and  receive  instruction, 
That  thou  mayest  be  wise  in  thy  latter  end. 

There  are  many  devices  in  a  man's  heart ; 
Nevertheless  the  counsel  of  the  Lord,  that  shall  stand. 

The  desire  of  a  man  is  his  kindness  : 
And  a  poor  man  is  better  than  a  liar. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  tendeth  to  life : 

And  he  that  hath  it  shall  abide  satisfied  ; 

He  shall  not  be  visited  with  evil. 

A  slothful  man  hideth  his  hand  in  his  bosom. 
And  will  not  so  much  as  bring  it  to  his  mouth  again. 

Smite  a  scorner,  and  the  simple  will  beware  : 
And  reprove  one  that  hath  understanding,  and  he  will    understand 

knowledge. 

He  that  wasteth  his  father,  and  chaseth  away  his  mother, 
Is  a  son  that  causeth  shame,  and  bringeth  reproach. 

Cease,  my  son,  to  hear  the  instruction 
That  causeth  to  err  from  the  words  of  knowledge. 


48  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


An  ungodly  witness  scorneth  judgment : 
And  the  mouth  of  the  wicked  devoureth  iniquity. 

Judgments  are  prepared  for  scorners, 
And  stripes  for  the  back  of  fools. 

Wine  is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging  : 
And  whosoever  is  deceived  thereby  is  not  wise. 

The  fear  of  a  king  is  as  the  roaring  of  a  lion  : 
Whoso  provoketh  him  to  anger  sinneth  against  his  own  soul. 

It  is  an  honour  for  a  man  to  cease  from  strife  : 
But  every  fool  will  be  meddling. 

The  sluggard  will  not  plow  by  reason  of  the  cold  ; 
Therefore  shall  he  beg  in  harvest,  and  have  nothing. 

Counsel  in  the  heart  of  man  is  like  deep  water ; 
But  a  man  of  understanding  will  draw  it  out. 

Most  men  will  proclaim  every  one  his  own  goodness  : 
But  a  faithful  man  who  can  find  ? 

The  just  man  walketh  in  his  integrity  : 
His  children  are  blessed  after  him. 

A  king  that  sitteth  in  the  throne  of  judgment 
Scattereth  away  all  evil  with  his  eyes. 

Who  can  say,  I  have  made  my  heart  clean, 
I  am  pure  from  my  sin  1 


THE    PROVERBS    OF   SOLOMON.  49 


Divers  weights,  and  divers  measures, 
Both  of  them  are  alike  abomination  to  the  Lord. 

Even  a  child  is  known  by  his  doings, 
Whether  his  work  be  pure,  and  whether  it  be  right. 

The  hearing  ear,  and  the  seeing  eye, 
The  Lord  hath  made  even  both  of  them. 

Love  not  sleep,  lest  thou  come  to  poverty  ; 
Open  thine  eyes,  and  thou  shalt  be  satisfied  with  bread. 

It  is  naught !  it  is  naught !  saith  the  buyer  : 
But  when  he  is  gone  his  way,  then  he  boasteth. 

There  is  gold,  and  a  multitude  of  rubies  : 
But  the  lips  of  knowledge  are  a  precious  jewel. 

Take  his  garment  that  is  surety  for  a  stranger  : 
And  take  a  pledge  of  him  for  a  strange  woman. 

Bread  of  deceit  is  sweet  to  a  man  ; 
But  afterwards  his  mouth  shall  be  filled  with  gravel. 

Every  purpose  is  established  by  counsel : 
And  with  good  advice  make  war. 

He  that  goeth  about  as  a  talebearer  revealeth  secrets  ; 
Therefore  meddle  not  with  him  that  flattereth  with  his  lips. 

Whoso  curseth  his  father  or  his  mother. 
His  lamp  shall  be  put  out  in  obscure  darkness. 


50  THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


An  inheritance  may  be  gotten  hastily  at  the  beginning  ; 
But  the  end  thereof  shall  not  be  blessed. 

Say  not  thou,  I  will  recompense  evil ; 
But  wait  on  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  save  thee. 

Divers  weights  are  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord  ; 
And  a  false  balance  is  not  good, 

Man's  goings  are  of  the  Lord  ; 
How  can  a  man  then  understand  his  own  way  ? 

It  is  a  snare  to  the  man  who  devoureth  that  which  is  holy, 
And  after  vows  to  make  inquiry. 

A  wise  king  scattereth  the  wicked, 
And  bringeth  the  wheel  over  them. 

The  spirit  of  man  is  the  candle  of  the  Lord, 
Searching  all  the  inward  parts  of  the  belly. 

Mercy  and  truth  preserve  the  king  : 
And  his  throne  is  upholden  by  mercy. 

The  glory  of  young  men  is  their  strength  : 
And  the  beauty  of  old  men  is  the  grey  head. 

The  blueness  of  a  wound  cleanseth  away  evil  : 
So  do  stripes  the  inward  parts  of  the  belly. 

The  king's  heart  is  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  as  the  rivers  of  water 
He  turneth  it  whithersoever  he  will. 


XIII. 


Mercy  and  truth  preserve  the  kmg : 
And  his  throne  is  upholden  by  mercy. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON.  5 1 

Every  way  of  a  man  is  right  in  his  own  eyes  : 
But  the  Lord  pondereth  the  hearts. 

To  do  justice  and  judgment  is  more  acceptable  to  the  Lord  than  sacrifice. 

An  high  look,  and  a  proud  heart,  and  the  plowing  of  the  wicked,  is  sin. 

The  thoughts  of  the  diligent  tend  only  to  plenteousness  ; 
But  of  every  one  that  is  hasty  only  to  want. 

The  getting  of  treasures  by  a  lying  tongue 
Is  a  vanity  tossed  to  and  fro  of  them  that  seek  death. 

The  robbery  of  the  wicked  shall  destroy  them  ; 
Because  they  refuse  to  do  judgment. 

The  way  of  man  is  froward  and  strange  : 
But  as  for  the  pure,  his  work  is  right. 

It  is  better  to  dwell  in  a  corner  of  the  housetop, 
Than  with  a  brawling  woman  in  a  wide  house. 

The  soul  of  the  wicked  desireth  evil  : 
His  neighbour  findeth  no  favour  in  his  eyes. 

When  the  scorner  is  punished,  the  simple  is  made  wise  : 
And  when  the  wise  is  instructed,  he  receiveth  knowledge 

The  righteous  man  wisely  considereth  the  house  of  the  wicked : 
But  God  overthroweth  the  wicked  for  their  wickedness. 

Whoso  stoppeth  his  ears  at  the  cry  of  the  poor, 
He  also  shall  cry  himself,  but  shall  not  be  heard. 


52  THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON. 


A  gift  in  secret  pacifieth  anger  : 
And  a  reward  in  the  bosom  strong  wrath. 

It  is  joy  to  the  just  to  do  judgment : 
But  destruction  shall  be  to  the  workers  of  iniquity. 

The  man  that  wandereth  out  of  the  way  of  understanding 
Shall  remain  in  the  congregation  of  the  dead. 

He  that  loveth  pleasure  shall  be  a  poor  man  : 
He  that  loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not  be  rich. 

The  wicked  shall  be  a  ransom  for  the  righteous, 
And  the  transgressor  for  the  upright. 

It  is  better  to  dwell  in  the  wilderness, 
Than  with  a  contentious  and  an  angry  woman. 

There  is  treasure  to  be  desired  and  oil  in  the  dwelling  of  the  wise  ; 
But  a  foolish  man  spendeth  it  up. 

He  that  followeth  after  righteousness  and  mercy 
Findeth  life,  righteousness,  and  honour. 

A  wise  man  scaleth  the  city  of  the  mighty, 
And  casteth  down  the  strength  of  the  confidence  thereof 

Whoso  keepeth  his  mouth  and  his  tongue 
Keepeth  his  soul  from  troubles. 

Proud  and  haughty  scorner  is  his  name, 
Who  dealeth  in  proud  wrath. 


THE  PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON.  53 


The  desire  of  the  slothful  killeth  him  ; 
For  his  hands  refuse  to  labour. 

He  coveteth  greedily  all  the  day  long  : 
But  the  righteous  giveth  and  spareth  not. 

The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  abomination  : 
How  much  more,  when  he  bringeth  it  with  a  wicked  mind  1 

A  false  witness  shall  perish  : 
But  the  man  that  heareth  speaketh  constantly. 

A  wicked  man  hardeneth  his  face  : 
But  as  for  the  upright,  he  directeth  his  way. 

There  is  no  wisdom  nor  understanding  nor  counsel  against  the  Lord. 

The  horse  is  prepared  against  the  day  of  battle ; 
But  safety  is  of  the  Lord. 

A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches, 
And  loving  favour  rather  than  silver  and  gold. 

The  rich  and  poor  meet  together  : 
The  Lord  is  the  maker  of  them  all. 

A  prudent  man  foreseeth  the  evil,  and  hideth  himself : 
But  the  simple  pass  on,  and  are  punished. 

By  humility  and  the  fear  of  the  Lord  are  riches,  honour,  and  life. 

Thorns  and  snares  are  in  the  Avay  of  the  froward  : 
He  that  doth  keep  his  soul  shall  be  far  from  them. 


54  THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON. 


Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go  : 
And  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it. 

The  rich  ruleth  over  the  poor, 
And  the  borrower  is  servant  to  the  lender. 

He  that  soweth  iniquity  shall  reap  vanity  : 
And  the  rod  of  his  anger  shall  fail. 

He  that  hath  a  bountiful  eye  shall  be  blessed ; 
For  he  giveth  of  his  bread  to  the  poor. 

Cast  out  the  scorner,  and  contention  shall  go  out ; 
Yea,  strife  and  reproach  shall  cease. 

He  that  loveth  pureness  of  heart. 
For  the  grace  of  his  lips  the  king  shall  be  his  friend. 

The  eyes  of  the  Lord  preserve  knowledge, 
And  he  overthroweth  the  words  of  the  transgressor. 

The  slothful  man  saith,  "  There  is  a  lion  without, 
I  shall  be  slain  in  the  streets." 

The  mouth  of  strange  women  is  a  deep  pit : 
He  that  is  abhorred  of  the  Lord  shall  fall  therein. 

Foolishness  is  bound  in  the  heart  of  a  child  ; 
But  the  rod  of  correction  shall  drive  it  far  from  him. 

He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  to  increase  his  riches, 
And  he  that  giveth  to  the  rich,  shall  surely  come  to  want. 


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XIV. 


Traill  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go  : 
Aud  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it. 


Part  III. 
THE  WORDS   OF  THE   WISE. 


THE  PROVERBS  OF  SOLOMON. 


Bow  down  thine  ear,  and  hear  the  words  of  the  wise, 

And  apply  thine  heart  unto  my  knowledge. 

For  it  is  a  pleasant  thing  if  thou  keep  them  within  thee  ; 

They  shall  withal  be  fitted  in  thy  lips. 

That  thy  trust  may  be  in  the  Lord, 

I  have  made  known  to  thee  this  day,  even  to  thee. 

Have  not  I  written  to  thee  excellent  things 

In  counsels  and  knowledge. 

That  I  might  make  thee  know  the  certainty  of  the  words  of  truth  ; 

That  thou  mightest  answer  the  words  of  truth  to  them  that  send  unto 

thee? 

Rob  not  the  poor,  because  he  is  poor  : 

Neither  oppress  the  afflicted  in  the  gate  : 

For  the  Lord  will  plead  their  cause. 

And  spoil  the  soul  of  those  that  spoiled  them. 

Make  no  friendship  with  an  angry  man  ; 

And  with  a  furious  man  thou  shalt  not  go  : 

Lest  thou  learn  his  ways, 

And  get  a  snare  to  thy  soul. 

Be  not  thou  one  of  them  that  strike  hands. 

Or  of  them  that  are  sureties  for  debts. 

If  thou  hast  nothing  to  pay, 

Why  should  he  take  away  thy  bed  from  under  thee  1 

Remove  not  the  ancient  landmark,  which  thy  fathers  have  set. 


58  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  business  ? 

He  shall  stand  before  kings  ; 

He  shall  not  stand  before  mean  men. 

When  thou  sittest  to  eat  with  a  ruler, 

Consider  diligently  what  is  before  thee  : 

And  put  a  knife  to  thy  throat, 

If  thou  be  a  man  given  to  appetite. 

Be  not  desirous  of  his  dainties  : 

For  they  are  deceitful  meat. 

Labour  not  to  be  rich  : 

Cease  from  thine  own  wisdom. 

Wilt  thou  set  thine  eyes  upon  that  which  is  not  ? 

For  riches  certainly  make  themselves  wings  ; 

They  fly  away,  as  an  eagle  toward  heaven. 

Eat  thou  not  the  bread  of  him  that  hath  an  evil  eye, 

Neither  desire  thou  his  dainty  meats  : 

For  as  he  thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he. 

"  Eat  and  drink,"  saith  he  to  thee  ; 

But  his  heart  is  not  with  thee. 

The  morsel  which  thou  hast  eaten  shalt  thou  vomit  up, 

And  lose  thy  sweet  words. 

Speak  not  in  the  ears  of  a  fool  : 
For  he  will  despise  the  wisdom  of  thy  words. 

Remove  not  the  old  landmark  ; 

And  enter  not  into  the  fields  of  the  fatherless  : 

For  their  Redeemer  is  mighty  ; 

He  shall  plead  their  cause  with  thee. 


<-#' 


XV. 


Seest  thoii  a  man  diligent  m  his  business ; 

He  shall  stand  before  kings ; 

He  shall  not  stand  before  mean  men. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  59 


Apply  thine  heart  unto  instruction, 
And  thine  ears  to  the  words  of  knowledge. 

Withhold  not  correction  from  the  child  : 

For  if  thou  beatest  him  with  the  rod,  he  shall  not  die. 

Thou  shalt  beat  him  with  the  rod, 

And  shalt  deliver  his  soul  from  hell. 

My  son,  if  thine  heart  be  wise. 
My  heart  shall  rejoice,  even  mine. 

Yea,  my  reins  shall  rejoice, 
When  thy  lips  speak  right  things. 

Let  not  thine  heart  envy  sinners  : 

But  be  thou  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  all  the  day  long. 

For  surely  there  is  an  end  ; 

And  thine  expectation  shall  not  be  cut  off. 

Hear  thou,  my  son,  and  be  wise. 

And  guide  thine  heart  in  the  way. 

Be  not  among  winebibbers  ; 

Among  riotous  eaters  of  flesh  : 

For  the  drunkard  and  the  glutton  shall  come  to  poverty  : 

And  drowsiness  shall  clothe  a  man  with  rags. 

Hearken  unto  thy  father  that  begat  thee, 
And  despise  not  thy  mother  when  she  is  old. 

Buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not, 
Also  wisdom,  and  instruction,  and  understanding. 

The  father  of  the  righteous  shall  greatly  rejoice  : 

And  he  that  begetteth  a  wise  child  shall  have  joy  of  him. 

Thy  father  and  thy  mother  shall  be  glad, 

And  she  that  bare  thee  shall  rejoice. 


6o  THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON, 


My  son,  give  me  thine  heart, 
And  let  thine  eyes  observe  my  ways. 

For  a  whore  is  a  deep  ditch  ; 

And  a  strange  woman  is  a  narrow  pit. 

She  also  lieth  in  wait  as  for  a  prey. 

And  increaseth  the  transgressors  among  men. 

Who  hath  woe  ?  who  hath  sorrow  1 

Who  hath  contentions  ?  who  hath  babbling  ? 

Who  hath  wounds  without  cause  ?  who  hath  redness  of  eyes  ? 

They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine ; 

They  that  go  to  seek  mixed  wine. 

Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red. 

When  it  giveth  his  colour  in  the  cup,  when  it  moveth  itself  aright. 

At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent, 

And  stingeth  like  an  adder. 

Thine  eyes  shall  behold  strange  women, 

And  thine  heart  shall  utter  perverse  things. 

Yea,  thou  shalt  be  as  he  that  lieth  down  in  the  midst  of  the  sea. 

Or  as  he  that  lieth  upon  the  top  of  a  mast. 

"  They  have  stricken  me,"  shalt  thou  say,  "  and  I  was  not  sick  ; 

They  have  beaten  me,  and  I  felt  it  not  : 

When  shall  I  awake  ?  I  will  seek  it  yet  again." 

Be  not  thou  envious  against  evil  men, 

Neither  desire  to  be  with  them. 

For  their  heart  studieth  destruction, 

And  their  lips  talk  of  mischief. 

Through  wisdom  is  an  house  builded  ; 

And  by  understanding  it  is  established  : 

And  by  knowledge  shall  the  chambers  be  filled 

With  all  precious  and  pleasant  riches. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  6 1 


A  wise  man  is  strong ; 
Yea,  a  man  of  knowledge  increaseth  strength. 
For  by  wise  counsel  thou  shalt  make  thy  war  : 
And  in  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is  safety. 

Wisdom  is  too  high  for  a  fool : 
He  openeth  not  his  mouth  in  the  gate. 

He  that  deviseth  to  do  evil  shall  be  called  a  mischievous  person. 

The  thought  of  foolishness  is  sin  : 
And  the  scorner  is  an  abomination  to  men. 

If  thou  faint  in  the  day  of  adversity, 
Thy  strength  is  small. 

If  thou  forbear  to  deliver  them  that  are  drawn  unto  death, 

And  those  that  are  ready  to  be  slain  ; 

If  thou  sayest,  "  Behold,  we  knew  it  not ;" 

Doth  not  he  that  pondereth  the  heart  consider  it  1 

And  he  that  keepeth  thy  soul,  doth  not  he  know  it  1 

And  shall  not  he  render  to  every  man  according  to  his  works  ? 

My  son,  eat  thou  honey,  because  it  is  good  ; 

And  the  honeycomb,  which  is  sweet  to  thy  taste  : 

So  shall  the  knowledge  of  wisdom  be  unto  thy  soul : 

When  thou  hast  found  it,  then  there  shall  be  a  reward. 

And  thy  expectation  shall  not  be  cut  off. 

Lay  not  wait,  O  wicked  man,  against  the  dwelling  of  the  righteous ; 

Spoil  not  his  resting  place  : 

For  a  just  man  falleth  seven  times,  and  riseth  up  again  : 

But  the  wicked  shall  fall  into  mischief 


62  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Rejoice  not  when  thine  enemy  falleth, 

And  let  not  thine  heart  be  glad  when  he  stumbleth  : 

Lest  the  Lord  see  it,  and  it  displease  him, 

And  he  turn  away  his  wrath  from  him. 

Fret  not  thyself  because  of  evil  men, 

Neither  be  thou  envious  at  the  wicked  ; 

For  there  shall  be  no  reward  to  the  evil  man ; 

The  candle  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out. 

My  son,  fear  thou  the  Lord  and  the  king  : 

And  meddle  not  with  them  that  are  given  to  change 

For  their  calamity  shall  rise  suddenly  ; 

And  who  knoweth  the  ruin  of  them  both  ? 


These  things  also  belong  to  the  Wise. 


It  is  not  good  to  have  respect  of  persons  in  judgment. 

He  that  saith  unto  the  wicked,  "  Thou  art  righteous  ; " 

Him  shall  the  people  curse,  nations  shall  abhor  him  : 

But  to  them  that  rebuke  him  shall  be  delight. 

And  a  good  blessing  shall  come  upon  them. 

Every  man  shall  kiss  his  lips  that  giveth  a  right  answer. 

Prepare  thy  work  without, 
And  make  it  fit  for  thyself  in  the  field  ; 
And  afterwards  build  thine  house. 


THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  63 


Be  not  a  witness  against  thy  neighbour  without  cause  ; 

And  deceive  not  with  thy  lips. 

Say  not,  I  will  do  so  to  him  as  he  hath  done  to  me  : 

I  will  render  to  the  man  according  to  his  work. 

I  went  by  the  field  of  the  slothful, 

And  by  the  vineyard  of  the  man  void  of  understanding  ; 

And  lo,  it  was  all  grov/n  over  with  thorns. 

And  nettles  had  covered  the  face  thereof, 

And  the  stone  wall  thereof  was  broken  down. 

Then  I  saw,  and  considered  it  well  : 

I  looked  upon  it,  and  received  instruction. 

Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber, 

A  little  folding  of  the  hands  to  sleep  : 

So  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that  travelleth  ; 

And  thy  want  as  an  armed  man. 


Part  IV. 


SUPPLEMENTARY. 


These  are  also 

PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON, 

Which  the  Men   of  Hezekiah   King  of  Judah 

copied  out. 


It  is  the  glory  of  God  to  conceal  a  thing  : 
But  the  honour  of  kings  is  to  search  out  a  matter. 

The  heaven  for  height,  and  the  earth  for  depth, 
And  the  heart  of  knigs  is  unsearchable. 

Take  away  the  dross  from  the  silver, 

And  there  shall  come  forth  a  vessel  for  the  finer ; 

Take  away  the  wicked  from  before  the  king, 

And  his  throne  shall  be  established  in  righteousness. 

Put  not  forth  thyself  in  the  presence  of  the  king. 

And  stand  not  in  the  place  of  great  men  : 

For  better  it  is  that  it  be  said  unto  thee,  "  Come  up  hither ; " 

Than  that  thou  shouldest  be  put  lower  in  the  presence  of  the  prince 

Whom  thine  eyes  have  seen. 

Go  not  forth  hastily  to  strive, 

Lest  thou  know  not  what  to  do  in  the  end  thereof, 

When  thy  neighbour  hath  put  thee  to  shame. 

Debate  thy  cause  with  thy  neighbour  himself; 

And  discover  not  a  secret  to  another  : 


68  THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON. 


Lest  he  that  heareth  it  put  thee  to  shame, 
And  thine  infamy  turn  not  away. 

A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver. 

As  an  earring  of  gold  and  an  ornament  of  fine  gold, 
So  is  a  wise  reprover  upon  an  obedient  ear. 

As  the  cold  of  snow  in  the  time  of  harvest. 

So  is  a  faithful  messenger  to  them  that  send  him  : 

For  he  refresheth  the  soul  of  his  masters. 

Whoso  boasteth  himself  of  a  false  gift  is  like  clouds  &  wind  without  rain. 

By  long  forbearing  is  a  prince  persuaded. 
And  a  soft  tongue  breaketh  the  bone. 

Hast  thou  found  honey  ?  eat  so  much  as  is  sufficient  for  thee, 
Lest  thou  be  filled  therewith,  and  vomit  it. 

Withdraw  thy  foot  from  thy  neighbour's  house  ; 
Lest  he  be  weary  of  thee,  and  so  hate  thee. 

A  man  that  beareth  false  witness  against  his  neighbour 
Is  a  maul,  and  a  sword,  and  a  sharp  arrow. 

Confidence  in  an  unfaithful  man  in  time  of  trouble 
Is  like  a  broken  tooth,  and  a  foot  out  of  joint. 

As  he  that  taketh  away  a  garment  in  cold  weather,  and  as  vinegar 

upon  nitre, 
So  is  he  that  singeth  songs  to  an  heavy  heart. 

If  thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give  him  bread  to  eat ; 

And  if  he  be  thirsty,  give  him  water  to  drink  : 


XVII. 


If  thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give  him  bread  to  eat ; 
And  if  he  be  thirsty,  give  him  water  to  drink. 


THE  PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON.  69 


For  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head, 
And  the  Lord  shall  reward  thee. 

The  north  wind  driveth  away  rain  : 
So  doth  an  angry  countenance  a  backbiting  tongue. 

It  is  better  to  dwell  in  the  corner  of  the  housetop, 
Than  with  a  brawling  woman  and  in  a  wide  house. 

As  cold  waters  to  a  thirsty  soul. 
So  is  good  news  from  a  far  country. 

A  righteous  man  falling  down  before  the  wicked 
Is  as  a  troubled  fountain,  and  a  corrupt  spring. 

It  is  not  good  to  eat  much  honey  : 
So  for  men  to  search  their  own  glory  is  not  glory. 

He  that  hath  no  rule  over  his  own  spirit 
Is  like  a  city  that  is  broken  down,  and  without  walls. 

As  snow  in  summer,  and  as  rain  in  harvest. 
So  honour  is  not  seemly  for  a  fool. 

As  the  bird  by  wandering,  as  the  swallow  by  flying, 
So  the  curse  causeless  shall  not  come. 

A  whip  for  the  horse,  a  bridle  for  the  ass, 
And  a  rod  for  the  fool's  back. 

Answer  not  a  fool  according  to  his  folly. 
Lest  thou  also  be  like  unto  him. 


70  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly, 
Lest  he  be  wise  in  his  o^^^l  conceit. 

He  that  sendeth  a  message  by  the  hand  of  a  fool 
Cutteth  off  the  feet,  and  drinketh  damage. 

The  legs  of  the  lame  are  not  equal  : 
So  is  a  parable  in  the  mouth  of  fools. 

As  he  that  bindeth  a  stone  in  a  sling, 
So  is  he  that  giveth  honour  to  a  fool. 

As  a  thorn  goeth  up  into  the  hand  of  a  drunkard, 
So  is  a  parable  in  the  mouth  of  fools. 

The  great  God  that  formed  all  things 
Both  rewardeth  the  fool,  and  rewardeth  transgressors. 

As  a  dog  returneth  to  his  vomit. 
So  a  fool  returneth  to  his  folly. 

Seest  thou  a  man  wise  in  his  own  conceit  ? 
There  is  more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him. 

The  slothful  man  saith,  "  There  is  a  lion  in  the  way ; 

A  lion  is  in  the  streets." 

As  the  door  turneth  upon  his  hinges. 

So  doth  the  slothful  upon  his  bed. 

The  slothful  hideth  his  hand  in  his  bosom  ; 

It  grieveth  him  to  bring  it  again  to  his  mouth. 

The  sluggard  is  wiser  in  his  own  conceit 

Than  seven  men  that  can  render  a  reason. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  7 1 

He  that  passeth  by,  and  meddleth  with  strife  belonging  not  to  him, 
Is  like  one  that  taketh  a  dog  by  the  ears. 

As  a  mad  man  who  casteth  firebrands,  arrows,  and  death. 

So  is  the  man  that  deceiveth  his  neighbour, 

And  saith,  "Am  not  I  in  sport  1" 

Where  no  wood  is,  there  the  fire  goeth  out : 
So  where  there  is  no  talebearer,  the  strife  ceaseth. 

As  coals  are  to  burning  coals,  and  wood  to  fire  ; 
So  is  a  contentious  man  to  kindle  strife. 

The  words  of  a  talebearer  are  as  wounds, 
And  they  go  down  into  the  innermost  parts  of  the  belly. 

Burning  lips  and  a  wicked  heart 

Are  like  a  potsherd  covered  with  silver  dross. 

He  that  hateth  dissembleth  with  his  lips. 

And  layeth  up  deceit  within  him ; 

When  he  speaketh  fair,  believe  him  not : 

For  there  are  seven  abominations  in  his  heart. 

Whose  hatred  is  covered  by  deceit. 

His  wickedness  shall  be  showed  before  the  whole  congregation. 

Whoso  diggeth  a  pit  shall  fall  therein  : 
And  he  that  rolleth  a  stone,  it  will  return  upon  him. 

A  lying  tongue  hateth  those  that  are  afflicted  by  it ; 
And  a  flattering  mouth  worketh  ruin. 

Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow ; 
For  thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth. 


>j2  THE  PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON. 


Let  another  man  praise  thee,  and  not  thine  own  mouth ; 
A  stranger,  and  not  thine  own  lips. 

A  stone  is  heavy,  and  the  sand  weighty  ; 
But  a  fool's  wrath  is  heavier  than  them  both. 

Wrath  is  cruel,  and  anger  is  outrageous  ; 
But  who  is  able  to  stand  before  envy  ? 

Open  rebuke  is  better 

Than  secret  love. 

Faithful  are  the  wounds  of  a  friend  ; 

But  the  kisses  of  an  enemy  are  deceitful. 

The  full  soul  loatheth  an  honeycomb  ; 
But  to  the  hungry  soul  every  bitter  thing  is  sweet. 

As  a  bird  that  wandereth  from  her  nest. 
So  is  a  man  that  wandereth  from  his  place. 

Ointment  and  perfume  rejoice  the  heart : 
So  doth  the  sweetness  of  a  man's  friend  by  hearty  counsel. 

Thine  own  friend,  and  thy  father's  friend,  forsake  not ; 

Neither  go  into  thy  brother's  house  in  the  day  of  thy  calamity 

For  better  is  a  neighbour  that  is  near  than  a  brother  far  off. 

My  son,  be  wise,  and  make  my  heart  glad, 
That  I  may  answer  him  that  reproacheth  me. 

A  prudent  man  foreseeth  the  evil,  and  hideth  himself ; 
But  the  simple  pass  on,  and  are  punished. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON.  73 


Take  his  garment  that  is  surety  for  a  stranger, 
And  take  a  pledge  of  him  for  a  strange  woman. 

He  that  blesseth  his  friend  with  a  loud  voice,  rising  early  in  the  morning, 
It  shall  be  counted  a  curse  to  him. 

A  continual  dropping  in  a  very  rainy  day  and  a  contentious  woman  are 

alike. 

Whosoever  hideth  her  hideth  the  wind, 

And  the  ointment  of  his  right  hand,  which  bewrayeth  itself 

Iron  sharpeneth  iron ; 
So  a  man  sharpeneth  the  countenance  of  his  friend. 

Whoso  keepeth  the  fig  tree  shall  eat  the  fruit  thereof : 
So  he  that  waiteth  on  his  master  shall  be  honoured. 

As  in  water  face  answereth  to  face, 
So  the  heart  of  man  to  man. 

Hell  and  destruction  are  never  full ; 
So  the  eyes  of  man  are  never  satisfied. 

As  the  fining  pot  for  silver,  and  the  furnace  for  gold  ; 
So  is  a  man  to  his  praise. 

Though  thou  shouldest  bray  a  fool  in  a  mortar  among  wheat  with  a  pestle, 
Yet  will  not  his  foolishness  depart  from  him. 

Be  thou  diligent  to  know  the  state  of  thy  flocks. 

And  look  well  to  thy  herds. 

For  riches  are  not  for  ever :   and  doth  the  crown  endure  to  every 

generation  ? 


74  THE   PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


The  hay  appeareth,  and  the  tender  grass  showeth  itself, 
And  herbs  of  the  mountains  are  gathered. 

The  lambs  are  for  thy  clothing, 

And  the  goats  are  the  price  of  the  field. 

And  thou  shalt  have  goats'  milk  enough  for  thy  food. 

For  the  food  of  thy  household. 

And  for  the  maintenance  for  thy  maidens. 

The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth  : 
But  the  righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion. 

For  the  transgression  of  a  land  many  are  the  princes  thereof : 
But  by  a  man  of  understanding  and  knowledge  the  state  thereof  shall 

be  prolonged. 

A  poor  man  that  oppresseth  the  poor  is  like  a  sweeping  rain  which 

leaveth  no  food. 

They  that  forsake  the  law  praise  the  wicked  : 
But  such  as  keep  the  law  contend  with  them. 

Evil  men  understand  not  judgment  : 
But  they  that  seek  the  Lord  understand  all  things. 

Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  uprightness, 
Than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways,  though  he  be  rich. 

Whoso  keepeth  the  law  is  a  wise  son  : 
But  he  that  is  a  companion  of  riotous  men  shameth  his  father. 

He  that  by  usury  and  unjust  gain  increaseth  his  substance. 
He  shall  gather  it  for  him  that  will  pity  the  poor. 


THE   PROVERBS   OF   SOLOMON. 


He  that  turneth  away  his  ear  from  hearing  the  law, 
Even  his  prayer  shall  be  abomination. 

Whoso  causeth  the  righteous  to  go  astray  in  an  evil  way, 

He  shall  fall  himself  into  his  own  pit  : 

But  the  upright  shall  have  good  things  in  possession. 

The  rich  man  is  wise  in  his  own  conceit ; 
But  the  poor  that  hath  understanding  searcheth  him  out. 

When  righteous  men  do  rejoice,  there  is  great  glory  : 
But  when  the  wicked  rise,  a  man  is  hidden. 

He  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper  : 
But  whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them  shall  have  mercy, 

Happy  is  the  man  that  feareth  alway  : 
But  he  that  hardeneth  his  heart  shall  fall  into  mischief. 

As  a  roaring  lion,  and  a  ranging  bear  ; 
So  is  a  wicked  ruler  over  the  poor  people. 

The  prince  that  wanteth  understanding  is  also  a  great  oppressor  : 
But  he  that  hateth  covetousness  shall  prolong  his  days. 

A  man  that  doeth  violence  to  the  blood  of  any  person 
Shall  flee  to  the  pit ;  let  no  man  stay  him. 

Whoso  walketh  uprightly  shall  be  saved  : 
But  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways  shall  fall  at  once. 

He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread  : 
But  he  that  followeth  after  vain  persons  shall  have  poverty  enough. 


y6  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


A  faithful  man  shall  abound  with  blessings  : 
But  he  that  maketh  haste  to  be  rich  shall  not  be  innocent. 

To  have  respect  of  persons  is  not  good  : 
For  for  a  piece  of  bread  that  man  will  transgress. 

He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich  hath  an  evil  eye, 
And  considereth  not  that  poverty  shall  come  upon  him. 

He  that  rebuketh  a  man 
Afterwards  shall  find  more  favour  than  he  that  flattereth  with  the  tongue. 

Whoso  robbeth  his  father  or  his  mother  and  saith,  "It  is  no  transgression ;" 
The  same  is  the  companion  of  a  destroyer. 

He  that  is  of  a  proud  heart  stirreth  up  strife  : 
But  he  that  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  made  fat. 

He  that  trusteth  in  his  own  heart  is  a  fool  : 
But  whoso  walketh  wisely,  he  shall  be  delivered. 

He  that  giveth  unto  the  poor  shall  not  lack  : 
But  he  that  hideth  his  eyes  shall  have  many  a  curse. 

When  the  wicked  rise,  men  hide  themselves  : 
But  when  they  perish,  the  righteous  increase. 

He  that  being  often  reproved  hardeneth  his  neck, 
Shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy. 

When  the  righteous  are  in  authority,  the  people  rejoice  : 
But  when  the  wicked  beareth  rule,  the  people  mourn. 


XVIII. 
He  that  cover eth  his  sms  shall  not  prosper. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF   SOLOMON.  77 


Whoso  loveth  wisdom  rejoiceth  his  father  : 
But  he  that  keepeth  company  with  harlots,  spendeth  his  substance. 

The  king  by  judgment  establisheth  the  land  : 
But  he  that  receiveth  gifts  overthroweth  it. 

A  man  that  flattereth  his  neighbour 
Spreadeth  a  net  for  his  feet. 

In  the  transgression  of  an  evil  man  there  is  a  snare  : 
But  the  righteous  doth  sing  and  rejoice. 

The  righteous  considereth  the  cause  of  the  poor  : 
But  the  wicked  regardeth  not  to  know  it. 

Scornful  men  bring  a  city  into  a  snare  : 
But  wise  men  turn  away  wrath. 

If  a  wise  man  contendeth  with  a  foolish  man, 
Whether  he  rage  or  laugh,  there  is  no  rest. 

The  bloodthirsty  hate  the  upright : 
But  the  just  seek  his  soul. 

A  fool  uttereth  all  his  mind  : 
But  a  wise  man  keepeth  it  in  till  afterwards. 

If  a  ruler  hearken  to  lies, 
All  his  servants  are  wicked. 

The  poor  and  the  deceitful  man  meet  together  : 
The  Lord  lighteneth  both  their  eyes. 


78  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


The  king  that  faithfully  judgeth  the  poor, 
His  throne  shall  be  established  for  ever. 

The  rod  and  reproof  give  wisdom  : 
But  a  child  left  to  himself  bringeth  his  mother  to  shame. 

When  the  'vicked  are  multiplied,  transgression  increaseth : 
But  the  righteous  shall  see  their  fall. 

Correct  thy  son,  and  he  shall  give  thee  rest ; 
Yea,  he  shall  give  delight  unto  thy  soul. 

Where  there  is  no  vision,  the  people  perish  : 
But  he  that  keepeth  the  law,  happy  is  he. 

A  servant  will  not  be  corrected  by  words  : 
For  though  he  understand  he  will  not  answer. 

Seest  thou  a  man  that  is  hasty  in  his  words  ? 
There  is  more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him. 

He  that  delicately  bringeth  up  his  servant  from  a  child 
Shall  have  him  become  his  son  at  the  length. 

An  angry  man  stirreth  up  strife. 
And  a  furious  man  aboundeth  in  transgression. 

A  man's  pride  shall  bring  him  low  : 
But  honour  shall  uphold  the  humble  in  spirit. 

Whoso  is  partner  with  a  thief  hateth  his  own  soul  : 
He  heareth  cursing,  and  bewrayeth  it  not. 


THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON.  79 


The  fear  of  man  bringeth  a  snare  : 
But  whoso  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  safe. 

Many  seek  the  ruler's  favour ; 
But  every  man's  judgment  cometh  from  the  Lord. 

An  unjust  man  is  an  abomination  to  the  just  : 
And  he  that  is  upright  in  the  way  is  abomination  to  the  wicked. 


THE     WORDS     OF     AGUR, 

The  Son  ij/Jakeh,  even  the  Prophecy. 

The  man  spake  unto  Ithiel, 

Even  unto  Ithiel  and  Ucal  : 

Surely  I  am  more  brutish  than  any  man, 

And  have  not  the  understanding  of  a  man. 

I  neither  learned  wisdom, 

Nor  have  the  knowledge  of  the  holy. 

Who  hath  ascended  up  into  heaven,  or  descended  1 

Who  hath  gathered  the  winds  in  his  fists  ? 

Who  hath  bound  the  waters  in  a  garment  1 

Who  hath  established  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  1 

What  is  his  name,  and  what  is  his  son's  name,  if  thou  canst  tell  1 

Every  word  of  God  is  pure  : 

He  is  a  shield  unto  them  that  put  their  trust  in  him. 

Add  thou  not  unto  his  words. 

Lest  he  reprove  thee,  and  thou  be  found  a  liar. 

Two  things  have  I  required  of  thee ; 

Deny  me  them  not  before  I  die  : 

Remove  far  from  me  vanity  and  lies  : 

Give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches  ; 

Feed  me  with  food  convenient  for  me  : 

Lest  I  be  full,  and  deny  thee, 

And  say,  "  Who  is  the  Lord  ?  " 


84  THE   PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON. 


Or  lest  I  be  poor,  and  steal, 
And  take  the  name  of  my  God  in  vain. 

Accuse  not  a  servant  unto  his  master, 
Lest  he  curse  thee,  and  thou  be  found  guilty. 

There  is  a  generation  that  curseth  their  father,  and  doth  not  bless  their 

mother. 

There  is  a  generation  that  are  pure  in  their  own  eyes. 

And  yet  is  not  washed  from  their  filthiness. 

There  is  a  generation,  oh  how  lofty  are  their  eyes  : 

And  their  eyelids  are  lifted  up. 

There  is  a  generation,  whose  teeth  are  as  swords, 

And  their  jaw  teeth  as  knives, 

To  devour  the  poor  from  off  the  earth, 

And  the  needy  from  among  men. 

The  horseleach  hath  two  daughters,  crying,  "  Give,  give." 

There  are  three  things  that  are  never  satisfied. 

Yea,  four  things  say  not,  "  It  is  enough  : " 

The  grave  ;  and  the  barren  womb  ; 

The  earth  that  is  not  filled  with  water ; 

And  the  fire  that  saith  not,  "It  is  enough." 

The  eye  that  mocketh  at  his  father, 

And  despiseth  to  obey  his  mother. 

The  ravens  of  the  valley  shall  pick  it  out. 

And  the  young  eagles  shall  eat  it. 

There  be  three  things  which  are  too  wonderful  for  me. 

Yea,  four  which  I  know  not  : 

The  way  of  an  eagle  in  the  air  ;  the  way  of  a  serpent  upon  a  rock  ; 

The  way  of  a  ship  in  the  midst  of  the  sea ; 


XIX. 


Every  word  of  God  is  pure  : 
He  IS  a  shield  unto  them  that  put  their  trust  m  Hun. 


THE   WORDS    OF   AGUR.  S5 


And  the  way  of  a  man  with  a  maid. 
Such  is  the  way  of  an  adulterous  woman  ; 

She  eateth,  and  wipeth  her  mouth, 
And  saith,  "  I  have  done  no  wickedness." 

For  three  things  the  earth  is  disquieted, 

And  for  four  which  it  cannot  bear  : 

For  a  servant  when  he  reigneth  ; 

And  a  fool  when  he  is  filled  with  meat  ; 

For  an  odious  woman  when  she  is  married  ; 

And  an  handmaid  that  is  heir  to  her  mistress. 

There  be  four  things  which  are  little  upon  the  earth, 

But  they  are  exceeding  wise  : 

The  ants  are  a  people  not  strong. 

Yet  they  prepare  their  meat  in  the  summer  ; 

The  conies  are  but  a  feeble  folk, 

Yet  make  they  their  houses  in  the  rocks  ; 

The  locusts  have  no  king, 
Yet  go  they  forth  all  of  them  by  bands  ; 
The  spider  taketh  hold  with  her  hands, 
And  is  in  kings'  palaces. 

There  be  three  things  which  go  well. 

Yea,  four  are  comely  in  going  : 

A  lion,  which  is  strongest  among  beasts, 

And  turneth  not  away  for  any ; 

A  greyhound  ;  an  he-goat  also  ; 

And  a  king,  against  whom  there  is  no  rising  up. 

If  thou  hast  done  foolishly  in  lifting  up  thyself. 
Or,  if  thou  hast  thought  evil, 


86  THE    PROVERBS    OF    SOLOMON, 


Lay  thine  hand  upon  thy  mouth. 
Surely  the  churning  of  milk  bringeth  forth  butter, 
And  the  wringing  of  the  nose  bringeth  forth  blood 
So  the  forcing  of  wrath  bringeth  forth  strife. 


THE    WORDS    OF   KING    LEMUEL, 

The  Prophecy  that  his  Mother  taught  hhn. 

What,  my  son  ? 

And  what,  the  son  of  my  womb  % 

And  what,  the  son  of  my  vows  '? 

Give  not  thy  strength  unto  women, 

Nor  thy  ways  to  that  which  destroyeth  kings. 

It  is  not  for  kings,  O  Lemuel, 

It  is  not  for  kings  to  drink  wine  ; 

Nor  for  princes  strong  drink  : 

Lest  they  drink,  and  forget  the  law, 

And  pervert  the  judgment  of  any  of  the  afflicted. 

Give  strong  drink  unto  him  that  is  ready  to  perish, 

And  wine  unto  those  that  be  of  heavy  hearts. 

Let  him  drink,  and  forget  his  poverty, 

And  remember  his  misery  no  more. 

Open  thy  mouth,  for  the  dumb, 

In  the  cause  of  all  such  as  are  appointed  to  destruction. 

Open  thy  mouth,  judge  righteously. 

And  plead  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy. 


XX. 


She  stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the  poor ; 

Yea,  she  stretcheth  forth  her  hands  to  the  needy. 


THE   WORDS    OF    LEMUEL.  87 


Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman  1 

For  her  price  is  far  above  rubies. 

Tlie  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in  Irer, 

So  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of  spoil. 

She  will  do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the  days  of  her  life. 

She  seeketh  wool,  and  flax, 

And  worketh  willingly  with  her  hands. 

She  is  like  the  merchants'  ships  ; 

She  bringeth  her  food  from  afar. 

She  riseth  also  while  it  is  yet  night, 

And  giveth  meat  to  her  household, 

And  a  portion  to  her  maidens. 

She  considereth  a  field,  and  buyeth  it  : 

With  the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  planteth  a  vineyard. 

She  girdeth  her  loins  with  strength, 

And  strengtheneth  her  arms. 

She  perceiveth  that  her  merchandise  is  good  : 

Her  candle  goeth  not  out  by  night. 

She  layeth  her  hands  to  the  spindle. 

And  her  hands  hold  the  distaff. 

She  stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the  poor ; 

Yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands  to  the  needy. 

She  is  not  afraid  of  the  snow  for  her  household  : 

For  all  her  household  are  clothed  with  scarlet. 

She  maketh   herself  coverings   of  tapestry  j   her  clothing  is   silk  and 

purple. 

Her  husband  is  known  in  the  gates, 

When  he  sitteth  among  the  elders  of  the  land. 

She  maketh  fine  linen,  and  selleth  it ; 

And  delivereth  girdles  unto  the  merchant. 

Strength  and  honour  are  her  clothing ; 

And  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to  come. 

She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom  ; 


88  THE    PROVERBS   OF    SOLOMON. 


And  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness. 

She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household, 

And  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness. 

Her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed  ; 

Her  husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her. 

Many  daughters  have  done  virtuously, 

But  thou  excellest  them  all. 

Favour  is  deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vain  : 

But  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised. 

Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  hands  ; 

And  let  her  own  works  praise  her  in  the  gates. 


THE    END. 


^1 


